§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will carry out a review of the Housing (Means of Escape from Fire in Houses in Multiple Occupation) Order 1981, having regard to the fact that in 1981 279 deaths out of 780 in dwellings were in houses in multiple occupation.
§ Mr. StanleyLocal authorities already have wide powers for requiring the provision of means of escape from570W fire in all houses in multiple occupation and not merely those covered in the order to which my hon. Friend refers. In October this year they were given guidance in the Department of Environment circular 25/82, "Fire Safety in Houses in Multiple Occupation", on the use which could be made of these powers. We are keeping the scope of the order under review.