HC Deb 20 November 1997 vol 301 cc265-7W
Mr. Ruane

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many(a) injuries and (b) fatalities were caused through fires in (i) houses in multiple occupation, (ii) the rest of the private rented sector, (iii) council houses and (iv) other social housing in Wales in each of the past 10 years; [16513]

Table 1: Fatal casualties from fires in dwellings by type of dwelling and cause of death, Wales, 1988 to 1995
Cause of death 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 11994 21995
Single occupancy/dwelling
Overcome by gas or smoke 20 12 12 21 18 15 1 12
Burns and overcome by gas or smoke 2 2 0 5 0 2 3 13
All causes 28 18 17 32 28 23 16 30
Multiple occupancy dwelling
Overcome by gas or smoke 5 6 2 8 4 2 2 2
Burns and overcome by gas or smoke 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
All causes 6 8 3 9 6 5 2 5
Other or unspecified dwellings
Overcome by gas or smoke 1 0 0 2 1 0 1 3
Burns and overcome by gas or smoke 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All causes 2 0 1 2 1 0 1 4
All types of dwelling
Overcome by gas or smoke 26 18 14 31 23 17 10 17
Burns and overcome by gas or smoke 2 3 0 5 0 2 3 15
All causes 36 26 21 43 35 28 19 39
1 Including additional late call and heat and smoke damage incidents (not recorded prior to 1994).

Table 2: Non fatal casualties from fires in dwellings by type of dwelling and nature of injury, Wales, 1988 to 1995
Nature of injury 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 11994 21995
Single occupancy dwelling
Overcome by gas or smoke 102 93 91 125 119 141 123 149
Burns and overcome by gas or smoke 12 7 8 3 12 5 9 7
All types of casualty 343 299 322 328 361 328 413 401
Of which:
precautionary check up 64 77 71 93 97 54 141 104
Multiple occupancy dwelling
Overcome by gas or smoke 35 57 64 79 71 71 58 118
Burns and overcome by gas or smoke 1 3 0 5 1 3 8 2
All types of casualty 127 142 131 165 152 172 189 203
Of which:
precautionary check up 35 31 32 33 40 59 78 51
Other or unspecified dwellings
Overcome by gas or smoke 2 0 5 2 2 4 2 1
Burns and overcome by gas or smoke 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
All types of casualty 5 5 13 8 9 10 6 3
Of which:
precautionary check up 2 0 0 0 3 2 1 0

(2) how many (a) injuries and (b) fatalities were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from house fires in (a) houses of multiple occupation; (b) the rest of the private rented sector, (c) council housing and (d) other social housing in Wales in each of the past 10 years. [16512]

Mr. George Howarth

I have been asked to reply.

The readily available information on fires in dwellings in Wales is given in the tables.

Casualties from carbon monoxide poisoning cannot be identified centrally. The data for 1994 and 1995 do not reliably distinguish houses in multiple occupation from other types of dwelling, such as flats and maisonettes.

Information for 1987 and earlier years is not available. Information for 1996 will be available early in 1998.

Table 2: Non fatal casualties from fires in dwellings by type of dwelling and nature of injury, Wales, 1988 to 1995
Nature of injury 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 11994 21995
All types of dwelling
Overcome by gas or smoke 139 150 160 206 192 216 183 268
Burns and overcome by gas or smoke 13 10 8 10 13 8 17 9
All types of casualty 475 446 466 501 522 510 608 607
Of which:
precautionary check up 101 108 103 126 140 115 220 155
1 Including additional late call and heat and smoke damage incidents (not recorded prior to 1994).