§ 8. Mrs. Mannasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he is aware that the Department of Scientific and industrial Research are now able to assess flammability and non-flammability with varying degree from 10 to 150 seconds in materials in constant use; and when, and in what way, the public will be informed of the results of the figure of merit tests.
§ Mr. BevinsYes, Sir. A British Standard for testing the flammability of any thin flexible material has now been published. The results of tests on about 20 fabrics have been published in the Journal of the Textile Institute and typical "figures of merit" for different cloths will be given in the Annual Report on Fire Research for 1955. Tests are now being carried out on samples of clothing which have actually been involved in burning accidents.
§ Mrs. MannIn view of the efficiency of these tests, can all our garments and our cloth now be labelled "inflammable," "highly inflammable" or "non-flammable"?
§ Mr. BevinsAs I have said, a British Standard has already been published. There is nothing to prevent a manufacturer who markets a non-inflammable commodity which conforms with this standard from labelling his product accordingly.
Mr. H. WilsonIs not this answer about "nothing to prevent" too feeble for words? If, as we understand, public money is being spent on these very important tests, ought not the hon. Gentleman to persuade the President of the Board of Trade to introduce legislation to make this labelling compulsory on manufacturers?
§ Mr. BevinsAs the right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well, no powers exist to enable the Board of Trade to do that, nor did they exist when he was at the Board of Trade. In accordance with normal commercial practice, firms marketing non-inflammable fabrics will obviously publicise them.
§ Mrs. MannOwing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.