§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the proportion of domestic fires caused by faulty or old electric wiring and as to the estimated loss in housing stock, cost to the fire brigade and loss of life caused by such fires.
§ Mr. Giles ShawInformation is available on the number of fires in dwellings attended by fire brigades for which a fault in fixed mains electrical wiring is recorded as the source of ignition. In 1983 there were 2,016 such fires in the United Kingdom—3.5 per cent. of all fires in dwellings—which resulted in 14 deaths. Information for 1984 is not yet available. Information is not available centrally on the loss in housing stock from these fires, or on the cost to fire brigades of attending these fires.