HC Deb 27 July 1989 vol 157 cc872-3W
Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many underground fires occurred in British Coal collieries between April 1987 and September 1988; and at how many collieries there were three or more such fires;

(2) how many cases of underground fires at British Coal collieries between April 1987 and September 1988 fire or smoke alarms or similar monitoring devices were alerted; and what were the reasons for any failures.

Mr. Nicholls

[holding answer 25 July 1989]: During this period there were 99 outbreaks of fire below ground at British Coal collieries and eight had three or more such occurrences. Information is not available on the number of devices alerted or failures that have occurred.