§ 4. Mr. Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the British Safety Council and the Chemical Industries Association about the carriage of dangerous chemicals by road; and what replies he has sent.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Lane)I have nothing to add at present to the replies given to Questions by the hon. Member on 9th November.—[Vol. 845; c. 214, 215.]
§ Mr. HuckfieldDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that so many new dangerous chemicals are coming on to the market that the only really satisfactory solution to this problem is a 24-hour emergency telephone service? Does he not accept that it is no good telling the British Safety Council that he is in touch with the Chemical Industries Association, when that association says that he is not? Will he not, instead, accept the British Safety Council's offer to provide this 24-hour telephone service?
§ Mr. LaneI can bring the hon. Gentleman a little further up to date than that. I accept that this is a very serious and important matter. With respect, he is doing a little less than justice to the progress that we have already made in extending these controls. We want to extend them more. On the point of the 24-hour service, I have been in touch with the Chemical Industries Association recently and it has undertaken to complete its inquiry and consultations as quickly as possible.