HC Deb 08 July 1994 vol 246 cc332-3W
Mrs. Peacock

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many non-industrial deaths and serious injuries have occurred in each of the last five years due to gas poisoning and explosions.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The information requested is shown in the table:

1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93
Number of fatalities
Explosion/fire 6 15 11 8 31
Carbon monoxide poisoning 41 34 30 33 391
Number of injuries
Explosion/fire 42 67 48 63 331
Carbon monoxide poisoning 94 88 131 184 1701
1Provisional.

The statistics, as gathered, do not differentiate between fires and explosions. Carbon monoxide poisoning is caused by the products of combustion escaping from an appliance into living accommodation. The gas supplied through the mains is not poisonous.