HC Deb 07 July 1997 vol 297 cc600-1
8. Mr. Heppell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a Bill to improve fire safety. [5514]

Mr. George Howarth

My hon. Friend is aware that we support the aims of the Bill on the subject that he introduced in the last Parliament and I am looking forward to implementing that Bill's aims as the opportunity presents itself in the near future.

Mr. Heppell

I thank my hon. Friend for those remarks. Fire safety is a complex issue and the detail needs proper discussion as well, so I am not asking him to prejudge any review. However, will he give one assurance that the previous Government would not give—that children's nighties and pyjamas will not be deregulated under this Government?

Mr. Howarth

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. On 8 May 1996, the then Home Secretary—the shadow Home Secretary's predecessor—refused to give such an assurance in a debate in the House. He made it plain that the Government would not rule out the deregulation of buildings in multiple occupation, children's nightclothes, as my hon. Friend rightly said, and foam-filled furniture. I can give this firm commitment: no such deregulation will take place under this Government. We consider fire safety, particularly in those respects, to be of the utmost priority and we will ensure that the necessary legislation is in place to protect people in those and all other circumstances in which they might be threatened by fire.

Mr. Collins

What assurance can the Minister give small businesses, especially those involved in tourism in my constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale, that legislation on fire safety will not be excessively onerous and drive yet more of them out of business?

Mr. Howarth

In an earlier answer on the EC workplace directive, the hon. Gentleman may have noted that we gave an assurance that no such onerous burdens would be placed on businesses. I am sure that he will agree, however, that, although we do not want to place any onerous burdens on any businesses, including seaside boarding houses or hotels, by the same token we want to ensure that the best possible safety measures are in place for all who use such premises.