HC Deb 02 July 2003 vol 408 cc356-9W
Matthew Taylor

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) fatalities and (b) non-fatal casualties there have been as a result of malicious fires in each year since 1997. [122579]

Phil Hope

The information requested is tabled as follows. 2001 is the most recent year for which data are available.

Fatal and non-fatal casualties in malicious fires, UK, 1997–2001
Fatal Non-fatal
1997 117 3,050
1998 111 3,086
1999 114 3,050
2000 109 3,373
2001 193 3,455
1 Figures on fatalities for 2001 are estimated; data will be finalized as further information is received relating to cause of death.

Note:

Data for 2001 are provisional.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many malicious fires there have been in Cornwall in each year since 1997. [122586]

Phil Hope

The information requested is tabled as follows:

Malicious primary fires in Cornwall, 1997–2001
Number
1997 347
1998 362
1999 332
2000 425
2001 533

Note:

Data for 2001 are provisional and the latest year for which data are available.

Primary fires are those which cause damage to property or involve casualties.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the annual budget of the Arson Control Forum was in(a) 2002 and (b) 2003. [122587]

Phil Hope

In 2002/03, the total annual budget of the Arson Control Forum was £1.36 million; in 2003–04 its total budget is £4.10 million.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how often the National Strategy for Arson Reduction working group has met in the last year. [122588]

Phil Hope

Members of the National Strategy for Arson Reduction working group are part of the Arson Control Forum's Intervention sub-group which has held four meetings in the last 12 months.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many school arson attacks occurred when pupils were present, in each year since 1997. [122386]

Phil Hope

The information available relates to the number of malicious fires that occurred between 9am and 4pm on weekdays excluding August, between 1997 and 2001 (the most recent year for which data are available). This is shown in the following table.

Malicious primary fires in schools by use of room, UK, 1997–2001
Cloakroom or lavatory Classroom Store room or area All other or unspecified
Total Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percetage
1997 1,066 142 13 279 26 120 11 525 49
1998 856 140 16 199 23 109 13 408 48
1999 1,018 179 18 287 28 114 11 438 43
2000 882 172 20 206 23 98 11 406 46
2001 1,040 174 17 197 19 122 12 547 53

Notes:

Data for 2001 are provisional

Due to rounding, percentage totals may not sum to 100 per cent.

It is not possible to further break down the cloakroom/lavatory category

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of individuals were responsible for intentionally starting school fires under the age of 18, when pupils were present, in each year since 1997. [122578]

Malicious primary fires in schools between 9am and 4pm on weekdays excluding August, United Kingdom, 1997–2001
Number
1997 263
1998 216
1999 348
2000 270
20011 328
1 Data for 2001 are provisional.

Note:

Primary fires are those which cause damage to property or involve casualties.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of all intentionally started school fires during school time were started by children aged seven and under, in each year since 1997. [122441]

Phil Hope

The table below shows the percentage of deliberate fires started between 9am and 4pm on weekdays, excluding August, by children under the age of 10 between 1997 and 2001. It is not possible to identify separately fires started by those aged seven and under. 2001 is the latest year for which data are available.

Malicious primary fires in schools between 9am and 4pm on weekdays excluding August, United Kingdom, 1997–2001
Total fires Percentage caused by child under 10
1997 263 19 (50 fires)
1998 216 25 (55 fires)
1999 348 24 (85 fires)
2000 270 22 (59 fires)
20011 328 15 (49 fires)
1 Data for 2001 are provisional.

Note:

Primary fires are those which cause damage to property or involve casualties.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of deliberately started school fires which occurred internally were started(a) in a cloakroom, (b) in classrooms and (c) in storage rooms, in each year since 1997. [122442]

Phil Hope

The information requested is shown in the following table. 2001 is the most recent year for which data are available.

Phil Hope

The following table shows the percentage of persons under 18 responsible for starting malicious school fires between 9am and 4pm on weekdays excluding August, between 1997 and 2001. 2001 is the latest year for which data are available.

Malicious primary fires in schools between 9am–4pm on

weekdays excluding August by persons under 18 as a percentage

of all persons under 18, United Kingdom, 1997–2001

Total malicious schooltime fires by persons under 18 Total population under 18 Percentage of under 18s starting fire
1997 222 13,459,127 0.00165
1998 171 13,443,385 0.00127
1999 291 13,425,441 0.00217
2000 235 13,389,649 0.00176
2001 263 13,345,813 0.00197

Notes:

Data for 2001 are provisional.

Primary fires are those which cause damage to property or involve casualties.

The percentage calculations assume that each individual fire has been started by only one individual and that no individual starts more than one fire.