§ LORD CROOKMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made with discussions with the British Standards Institution as to the inadequacy of aerosol fire extinguishers to put out fires in the home.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD WINDLESHAM)My Lords, at the request of the Home Office, the British Standards Institution has set up a sub-committee to look into the feasibility of preparing a British Standard prescribing tests for the performance and reliability of small fire extinguishers, including these of the aerosol type. If such tests can be evolved, it will be possible for more precise guidance to be given to the public on the suitability of small extinguishers for given types of fires.
§ LORD CROOKMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. May I remind him that it is almost exactly the reply which was given in the other place on May 16 last?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, the sub-committee was set up only in June of this year, so there has been progress since the date that the noble Lord mentioned.