FLAMMABLE CLOTHING (Hansard, 29 June 1966)

§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)
My Lords, the Working Party has recommended that the present exemption of infants' gowns from the requirements of the Children's Nightdresses Regulations 1964 should be partly removed; that in the case of children's nightdresses made from thermoplastic materials, the use of non-melting embroidery and button-hole thread should be permitted above the waist and elbows; and that all adults' nightdresses exceeding 45 inches in length, which do not satisfy a prescribed flammability test, should bear a label warning the customer that such garments are not safe from fire. Regulations will now be prepared giving effect to these recommendations, except that Her Majesty's Government propose that the labelling requirement should apply to all adults' nightdresses coming within the scope of the new controls, regardless of their length. The present exemption of infants' gowns from the Children's Nightdresses Regulations would in future be 662 limited to gowns with a chest measurement not exceeding 21 inches.

§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY
My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his Answer, but reserving comment on the specific details, might I ask him whether the Regulations will be laid before Parliament rises for the Summer Recess, and could he give us any indication as to when he would hope they might become law? Might I ask also whether the Home Office has been able to adopt the suggestion I made, that they should sponsor a film giving publicity to these matters?

§ LORD STONHAM
My Lords, Draft Regulations must first be circulated for comment to all concerned, and they will be made as soon as possible after that. I cannot give a firm date at present, but I should have thought it unlikely that they could be laid before the Summer Recess. The answer to my noble friend's second question is that we have adopted my noble friend's suggestion. A short "filler" film on this subject, for showing on television in breaks between programmes, is now being produced and is expected to be ready in the early autumn. Another film, also in preparation, will deal with the importance of guarding open fires.

§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY
My Lords, is my noble friend able to do anything to hasten what seem the interminable preliminaries to getting these Regulations laid? Am I not correct in saying it is five weeks before the House rises, and surely that is time enough for the discussions to take place?

§ LORD STONHAM
My Lords, the Working Party's recommendations have only just been received by the Government and the decision I have just announced has only just been arrived at. The Draft Regulations have to be framed, and then, as I have said, submitted to interested parties and organisations. I do not think we can do this within a period of five weeks. As my noble friend is aware, I am as anxious as she is to get these Regulations approved, but I cannot hold out any hope that they can be ready before the Summer Recess.

§ LORD DERWENT
My Lords, the noble Lord says the Regulations have to be circulated to interested parties. May 663 we take it, apart from the actual drafting, that all the interested parties have already been consulted?

§ LORD STONHAM
My Lords, I could not be certain that all the interested parties have in fact been consulted, although most would have been represented on the Working Party. But if the noble Lord followed the first Answer I gave, he will be aware that the Government have not entirely accepted the recommendations of the Working Party. Therefore, it is proper that they should be apprised and given the opportunity of expressing their views on the decisions we have taken.

§ LORD AUCKLAND
My Lords, in view of the fact that a large number of accidents, including those of last winter, were due to burns, would the noble Lord do all in his power to ensure that these Regulations are put into force as soon as possible? May I also ask him whether a White Paper will be published on the recommendations when they come out, in view of the great public importance of this matter?

§ LORD STONHAM
My Lords, as the noble Lord also is very well aware, I am most anxious for these Regulations to be laid and to come into operation as soon as possible afterwards. I have already been into this question thoroughly and satisfied myself they cannot be brought out more quickly. With regard to publication of a White Paper, that is something I will consider, although it may be that other forms of publicity, perhaps through the Consumer Council, will be more suitable. We shall do all we possibly can to bring to public notice this menace and the ways of avoiding these fatalities.