§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has yet received an interim report from the Health and Safety Commission on the investigation into the explosion at Newnham house, Manor Fields, Putney, on 10 January.
§ Mr. Tom KingI am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the investigators from the Health and Safety Executive believe they may have identified the source of the gas explosion.
Following detailed tests, a fracture in the cast-iron pipe that served Newnham house has been traced. Indications are that the gas seeped from the cracked mains into spaces below the building, including a service duct that ran the length of Newnham house.
Further work will be undertaken by the executive to identify the probable passage of gas through the building and to locate the seat of the explosion. I have asked the chairman to ensure that this work, and the publication of a full report on the findings of the investigation, proceeds with all due speed.