Rental Properties: Smoke Alarms

Earl of Listowel Excerpts

Thursday 8th May 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

The Question is about smoke alarms. It is worth noting that the noble Lord did not acknowledge that this Government listened to the debates in this House and are looking into whether smoke alarms should be made mandatory, which was something that his party did not do when it was in government.

[The Earl of Listowel (CB)]

Will the review look at how many lives might be saved by introducing this new regulation? Will it look in particular at how many children’s lives might be saved? Are there any indicative figures of the potential benefit?

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

Accidental death by fire has reduced dramatically over the years, partly because of the introduction of smoke alarms but also because of a range of other measures, regulations and activity in this area. As I say, the review is comprehensive and we are certainly looking at how such a change would affect all those who live in the rented sector.