§ 3.5 p.m.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are in a position to make a statement concerning the effect that The Children's Nightdresses Regulations 1964 have had on the relevant accident figures and whether it is proposed to extend these Regulations to nightdresses for the elderly.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, the Children's Nightdresses Regulations came into operation on October 1, 1964. During the following six months, four girls under the age of fifteen died as a result of their nightwear catching alight. This compared with ten during the same period in the preceding year. Particulars of non-fatal accidents are not available. The reduction in the number of these tragic deaths is encouraging, but I cannot say with certainty how far it has been due to the Regulations. The possibility of extending the scope of the Regulations to other children's garments, to nightwear for the elderly and to material sold in the piece is being considered by a Working Party which my right honourable and learned friend has set up for this purpose.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. May I ask him whether he will arrange that the Home Office Working Party will discuss the problem of flammability and nightdresses for the elderly as a first priority, because I understand that it is low on their list at the 684 moment? Secondly, so as to expedite this inquiry, will he arrange that their discussions shall be limited to nightdresses for the elderly and not clothing in general?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I am afraid that I cannot give that assurance. Nor can I confirm what my noble friend said about the question of nightdresses for the elderly being low on the list. It is certainly a matter which the Working Party is considering, and on which we hope to have its views as quickly as possible.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMay I ask my noble friend whether he is aware that his answer is not really satisfactory? I fully realise that he will have to check whether my information is correct. If it happens that it is correct, would not it be good idea if he, as Minister at the Home Office, would ask this Working Party to upgrade this matter to one of first priority rather than leave it, as I suggest it is at the moment, a low one?
§ LORD STONHAMAs Minister with direct responsibility for this matter, I will certainly look into what my noble friend has said. The Working Party has already met three times, and is working hard on this subject and related ones. We hope to hear from it quite soon. I ask my noble friend to realise that this is not the only priority, important as it is. A few days ago a small child was burned to death because it was wearing a nightdress made up from material by the mother. This also is another matter which we regard as having a high priority.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYI am sorry to rise for a third time, but my noble friend has now gone on to a different tack. May I ask whether he would agree that, while everybody wishes to help in this matter, it surely is not practical to suggest that all materials sold in shops should be non-flammable, or alternatively, that anyone can control the material used by people who make up garments at home?
§ LORD STONHAMI must remind my noble friend that she started off by asking me to confine the work of the Working Party to safeguards for nightwear for elderly people—
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYNo, I am sorry. On a point of order, my Lord. I asked my noble friend to upgrade it, not to confine it.
§ LORD STONHAMThen I misunderstood my noble friend. I would merely point out that there are other matters which some people regard as extremely urgent and important. With regard to the last part of her question, I visited Courtaulds at Coventry a few weeks ago, and they do not share the view expressed by my noble friend that there is no hope of making arrangements for supplying materials of low flammability. This matter is now the subject of consideration by them and by the Working Party, and we hope for favourable results.