Question
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sadiq Khan, on 14 January (Official Report, House of Commons, 772W), why the figure for fires started by electrical appliances or wiring in 2003 is approximately one fifth of those in the succeeding four years. [HL1472]
The table provided in the reply given to the honourable Member for Eastleigh on 14 January (Official Report, col. 772W) contained an error. For the years 2004 onwards, the row containing the total number of fires in England incorrectly included non-electrical sources of ignition. Figures relating to the individual causes of fire were correct however. A correct version of the table is provided below. We have arranged for the Official Report to be corrected and have issued a revised Answer to the honourable Member for Eastleigh.
Country and source of ignition 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 England 84,802 79,500 75,983 72,451 67,882 Non electrical 69,576 63,454 60,221 56,671 52,637 Electrical 15,226 16,046 15,762 15,780 15,245 Cooking appliances 1,386 1,441 1,485 1,502 1,419 Electric space heater 140 136 126 155 190 Plugs 56 55 76 96 81 Sockets and switches 308 316 362 371 387 Leads to appliances 495 523 434 429 380 Wire and cable 3,276 3,761 3,729 3,914 3,713 Washing machine 1,075 1,028 992 910 815 Dishwasher 443 427 370 351 381 Refrigerator 628 687 633 559 565 Tumble and spin driers 853 1,021 999 886 1,005 Lighting 2,417 2,788 2,784 2,780 2,655 Blanket or bedwarmer 252 181 165 133 111 Television 425 524 455 419 438 Iron 60 39 77 85 100 AV, VDU or computer 246 271 243 247 232 Other electrical 3,166 2,848 2,832 2,943 2,773
P=Provisional—Data for 2007 are provisional and subject to change