asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many gas explosions causing injury or damage were reported in 1981; and how this compares with the previous two years.

The number of gas explosions that were reported in each of the three years from 1979 to 1981 were as follows:

	numbers
1979	81
1980	110
1981	107

In this context, "explosion" is defined as any explosion which may have caused the death of any person or any injury resulting in the person injured being admitted to hospital, or significant damage.