§ 12. Mrs. Sally Oppenheimasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will use his powers under the Consumer Protection Act 1961 to ban the sale of aerosol adhesives containing the same chemical substances as those which have recently been banned by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
§ Mr. LaneThe production and sale in this country of these aerosol adhesives have already been stopped by the manu- 1158 factures. Further investigations are being made by Home Office medical advisers, among others, and until their outcome is known regulations under the 1961 Act would be premature.
§ Mrs. OppenheimDoes my hon. Friend accept that there is expert evidence that these products can lead to genetic malformation and that, although these products were banned in the United States last August, and subsequently in the EEC, they have not even been the subject of a national warning here, let alone banned? Whereas manufacturers may have withdrawn supplies, they are on sale and in use in this country. Why do we always seem to be trailing behind instead of blazing the trail with regard to the safety of consumer products?
§ Mr. LaneI do not accept that. To use my hon. Friend's phrase, does she not think that we are blazing a trail in many of the ways in which we are protecting consumers? I know the disturbing views that have been expressed, as my hon. Friend said, but I think it right that we should investigate this matter thoroughly, just as it is being investigated in the United States, before we finally decide what steps to take. I take this very seriously indeed, and if necessary we will take action.