North East Bedfordshire MP Alistair Burt was last week named in the House of Commons as a promoter of a Ten Minute Rule Bill from MP Nick Raynsford urging the mandatory introduction of smoke detectors in privately rented properties.
Mr Burt, who lost nine constituents in a house fire in his former Bury constituency 30 years ago, had previously lobbied the government to make the change.
Mr Burt said ‘I was pleased to back this Bill, which has all party support. Most good landlords already provide smoke and other hazardous emissions detectors, and what this Bill will do is ensure that all landlords have the same obligations. The cost over a rental period is minimal, but the benefit in a fire may be incalculable.
“I am pleased to have helped promote improvements to fire safety which has been made by successive governments since those dark days of thirty years ago.”