§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Fire Research and Development Group, Part II-Review of Research 1999–2000, what were the conclusions and recommendations of the report on domestic smoke alarms (advice to the public). [159788]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienNo formal report of the research carried out by the Institute of Child Health (ICH) referred to in the Fire Research and Development Group (FRDG) document Review of Research 1999–2000 has been published.
The objective of the research was to determine whether the door-to-door distribution of free smoke alarms to inner-city residents in London would be effective in reducing the risk of residential fires, fire related casualties, and serious fire-related injuries and deaths. The programme was being conducted in Camden and Islington, areas identified as being of substantial risk and deprivation. It commenced in July 1997. The researchers provided some 20,000 smoke alarms, potentially sufficient to increase smoke alarm ownership by 50 per cent. in their intervention areas. However a year after the programme, the level of installed working alarms was found to be not significantly higher than it was in the control group (39 per cent. as opposed to 38 per cent).
526WIt is understood that the researchers feel the findings to date show the importance of not simply supplying smoke alarms, but of also having them installed professionally, if a 'give-away' initiative is to work.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of households owned smoke alarms in each fire authority area in(a) 1998 and (b) 1999. [159768]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe information requested is not available centrally.
Smoke alarm ownership data are collected on a national basis via surveys. The Home Office Fire Safety Attitudes and Awareness Monitor shows that (a) 82 per cent. of households owned a smoke alarm in 1998 and (b) 81 per cent. of households in 1999 owned a smoke alarm.