§ 8. Mrs. McLaughlinasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the British Standards Institution Report on the flammability of apparel fabrics; and what action he intends to take to implement the recommendations embodied in this Report.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Sir David Eccles)I am studying the Report, which contains a great deal of interesting and valuable advice. But it was published only last week and its recommendations affect several Government Departments, so that further discussions will be necessary before any decisions can be taken.
§ Mrs. McLaughlinWill the Government now give urgent consideration to providing a reasonable sum of money for an educational publicity campaign so that the dangers of these flammable materials may be made known to the public and some of the tremendous number of deaths drastically cut down as soon as possible?
§ Sir D. EcclesI agree that a public campaign may be needed, but we must consider how to organise and pay for it.
§ Mrs. MannI am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will not want to mislead the House. Is he aware that the Committee in its Report turned down flat all the proposal which it was set up to consider, namely, the graded labelling for flammability of all goods in daily use which cause burning and death?
§ Sir D. EcclesI am aware of that and, very naturally, we have to consider carefully what the Report says.