HC Deb 15 June 1994 vol 244 c559W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the fire service is required to attend train and plane crashes not involving fires; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Under section 1 of the Fire Services Act 1947, a fire authority has a duty to make provision for firefighting purposes, and in particular to secure the services of a fire brigade and equipment in order to meet efficiently all normal requirements. Section 3(1)(e) of the 1947 Act gives a fire authority supplementary powers to employ its brigade for purposes other than firefighting. This may include attendance at train and aircraft accidents not involving fires.

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of fatalities resulting from fires in buildings built since 1979 for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Charles Wardle

This information is not available from the statistics collected from fire brigades.