To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many accidents involving fire engines there were in Avon and Somerset; how many of these resulted in fatalities; and how many fatalities occurred in each year from 1991 to 1995. [5166]

Fire engines are not identified explicitly on the STATS 19 form completed by the police for road injury accidents. However, through the vehicle registration mark, which is recorded, it is possible to trace the vehicle type of about 80 per cent. of motor vehicles involved in such accidents. From this information, the number of accidents involving fire engines and their consequent fatalities in Avon and Somerset from 1991 to 1995, are shown in the following table.