HC Deb 15 January 1993 vol 216 c825W
Mr. Page

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of fires in(a) the private sector and (b) the commercial sector were caused by faulty electrical installations for the latest year for which figures are available.

Mr. Jack

The table shows the percentage of fires attended by local authority fire brigades in the United Kingdom in 1991 where the cause was reported to be faults in the electrical plugs, sockets, switches, leads to appliances and other wiring in buildings, by their trade or business activity. The classification of "private" or "commercial" is not available.

Percentage of all fires in each category of building in 1991 caused by faulty electrical distribution apparatus1
Category of building per cent.2
Dwellings 5
Private garages, sheds etc. 2
Agricultural, forestry, fishing premises 9
Industrial premises 7
Premises used for distributive trade, hotels and catering; repairs 8
Transport and communication premises 6
Banking, finance, insurance, business services and leasing premises 12
Other service premises 5
Other 2
Unspecified 6
All occupied buildings 5
1 Electrical distribution apparatus include plugs, sockets and switches, leads to appliances and other wiring.
2 Provisional.

Source: Home Office Fire Statistics, based on reports from local authority fire brigades.