Sorry but I’m going to need a source on that because there is no evidence of that being the reason UK plug sockets have switches

Other countries have switches on their sockets, Australia being one because I live here

Switches on sockets do make a ton on sense though for safety reasons for example if you need to quickly isolate electricity from the switch and the breaker hasn’t done anything

Switches also prevent arcing when you pull out a plug if an appliance doesn’t have an off switch and you can switch something off that you use commonly say a kettle but don’t unplug because you use it commonly so theirs less chance of an electrical fault happening while no one is there and its also the same reason I’ll demand an isolation switch be installed on electric stoves just incase the switch on the stove fails and the stove turns on