To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps fire authorities have taken to examine the causes of wheeled refuse container fires; and if he will make a statement. (286523)

All fires are investigated by fire and rescue services and a most likely cause is determined either by the incident commander or a fire investigation officer.

Local analysis of fire data is undertaken within fire and rescue services to determine trends, such as geographical locations or types of incident, and to inform the Integrated Risk Management Planning process. These data are used internally and are not shared with Communities and Local Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the number of wheeled refuse container fires in England in the last 12 months. (286567)

The number of wheeled refuse container fires is not yet held centrally and so could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Data on refuse fires are calculated from aggregate monthly returns. These are limited to the total number of refuse and refuse container fires attended by each fire and rescue service. These provide insufficient information to make an estimate on the number of wheeled refuse container fires.

The total number of refuse and refuse container fires is shown in the table for the latest year for which information is available.

The recently implemented electronic incident recording system (IRS) records both the number and location of all incidents attended by fire and rescue services. The number and location of wheeled refuse container fires attended by fire and rescue services will therefore be available, with the first data being for 2009-10.