§ 19. Mrs. Mannasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Inter-departmental Committee on Home Safety have studied the research work done by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on materials for flammability; and what action the committee intend to take to have the information acquired by this research widely known.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeYes, Sir. The test of flammability of thin flexible materials devised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has been incorporated in a British Standard issued by the British Standards Institution. This is, however, simply a method of test, and wider publicity for it will not of itself reduce the number of accidents. The Committee attach greater importance to the finding of a cheap and effective method of flame-proofing clothing materials and I welcome the efforts being made by the trade to this end.
§ Mrs. MannIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that we are glad that we have a British Standard but that it recognises only the figure of merit material, whereas the great danger is in the sale of the cheap, highly inflammable material? Could not advertisements be placed in the newspapers, or some similar action taken, apart altogether from labelling, stating the time of flammability for certain materials?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI will consider, that, although I think that an even better way is the effort which is being made now by the trade to make flame-proof clothing which has already been made.