Written question asked by Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative) on Wednesday, 16 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 March 2005. It was answered by Nick Raynsford (Labour) on Monday, 21 March 2005 on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate his Department has made of the number of house fires in which plug- in air fresheners were a contributory cause in the last five years.

Answer: Mr. Randall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate his Department has made of the number of house fires in which plug-in air fresheners were a contributory cause in the last five years. [223197] Mr. Raynsford: The national fire statistics do not distinguish air fresheners as a potential source of fire and so the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not able to determine the number of house fires in which plug-in air fresheners have been a contributory cause. Recent inquiries with several fire and rescue services has revealed no evidence that air fresheners may be a contributory cause in house fires.

Secondary information