HC Deb 18 April 2000 vol 348 cc420-1W
Mr. Pickles

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths from fire there were in(a) residential and (b) non-residential property where a sprinkler system was fitted in each of the last 10 years. [119110]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The information is given in the table.

Number of deaths from fire in dwellings1 and non-residential properties where a sprinkler system2 was fitted, 1988–98, United Kingdom
Year Dwellings Non-resindential properties
1989 3
1990
1991
1992 2
1993
1994 2
1995
1996
1997
19983
1Includes caravans, boats and other non-building structures used solely as a permanent dwelling
2 Includes drencher systems from 1988 to 1993
3 Provisional

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths from fire in residential property there were where a freestanding smoke detector was(a) fitted and working and (b) fitted but not working in each of the last 10 years. [119111]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The information for 1994 to 1998 only is given in the table. Figures for smoke alarm operation were not collected nationally for years prior to 1994. The table has been split to show both numbers of deaths from fire where a smoke alarm was present, operated and raised the alarm, and deaths where smoke

Number of deaths from fire in dwellings1 by presence and operation of smoke detectors, United Kingdom, 19942–984
1994 1995 1996 1997 19984
Smoke alarm presence and operation:
Present, operated and raised alarm 47 58 57 45 48
Present, operated, but did not raise alarm3 35 28 26 27 28
Smoke alarm present but did not operate 46 71 82 84 80
Smoke alarm present (all) 128 157 165 156 156
Smoke alarm absent 360 389 399 406 350
Unspecified 13
Total 488 559 564 562 5506(496)
1Includes caravans, boats and other non-building structures used solely as a permanent dwelling.
2 Prior to 1994 data was not collected.
3Category includes instances where alarm was raised by people before smoke alarm operated; no-one was in earshot; alarm incorrectly installed etc.
4Figures for 1998 are provisional.
5Figures for 1998 are estimated to take account of revisions as later information is received.