asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires were caused in England and Wales during 1960 by defective oil-fired heating systems; what was the cost of such damage; and what was the number of casualties.

There were 148 fires in oil-fired heating installations in England and Wales during 1960, but it is not possible to say how many were caused by defects in the installations themselves. I have no information about the cost of damage. There were not fatal casualties.