HC Deb 18 October 1993 vol 230 cc151-2W
Mr. Mike O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were(a) killed and (b) injured in bedsitter fires in each of the last five years.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The number of casualties in fires, attended by local authority fire brigades in the United Kingdom, which started in bedsitting rooms of dwellings in multiple occupation, is given in the table for the years 1987 to 1991.

Fire-related deaths and injuries from fires starting in bedsitting rooms of dwellings in multiple occupancy, attended by local authority fire brigades, United Kingdom.
Year Fire related deaths Fire related injuries
1987 40 254
1988 41 261
1989 37 229
1990 36 305
1991 28 252

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

Mr. Mike O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to implement EC fire regulations in respect of offices and businesses;

(2) what discussions he has had with EC institutions with regard to EC fire regulations in respect of offices and businesses during the last year.

Mr. Charles Wardle

We are presently considering revised proposals for Fire Precautions (Places of Work) Regulations to implement the fire safety requirements of European Council directives 89/391/EEC and 89/654/EEC in the light of the recent efficiency scrutiny report on the implementation and enforcement of EC law in the United Kingdom. Those regulations, if implemented, will apply to most places of work with one or more employees.

The Home Office has had no discussions with EC institutions about those proposals or the fire safety provisions of other health and safety directives during the last year.