§ 6. Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has received to his circular concerning pen top safety sent to all local education authorities; and whether he will make a statement.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Bob Dunn)I am grateful to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) for his continued interest in this matter. The response to our circular has been good.
§ Mr. JannerIs the Minister aware that the parents of 11-year old Billy Walker, the Leicester boy who died after swallowing a pen top, as too many other children have 935 done, have prepared a petition with several thousand signatures which I shall present to the House on Friday? Therefore, when he says that there has been a good response to the circular, they will wish to know what that response has been and what chance there is of its resulting in no more unnecessary deaths from this cause.
§ Mr. DunnI was not aware of the petition, but I note the hon. and learned Gentleman's point. I can tell him that 32 local education authorities have sent to the Department copies of guidance material that they have issued. A number of authorities have issued to their schools pens with ventilated tops, which carry less risk of asphyxiation if swallowed. I undertake to keep the problem under review.
§ Mr. Greg KnightWhat is the position in regard to the British standard, and when will it be available?
§ Mr. DunnI understand from the British Standards Institution that the standard will be published in December this year. It is my intention to write again to local education authorities when the new British standard becomes available.