§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy 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 when they are going to revise the existing safety regulations for domestic fire guards to conform with the improved British Standard and why, in spite of assurances that they would do so, there has already been a delay of more than eighteen months since publication of the standard.
THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS)Draft regulations were circulated to interested bodies for comment on January 31 and will be made immediately consultations have been completed. I regret the delay. The regulations were drafted as soon as other urgent work permitted.
§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him whether he realises that delay of this sort is apt to prejudice the credibility of the Government's policy and determination to move on with consumer affairs? Secondly, does the noble Lord really feel that this delay was justified, or was it simply because the file was remaining in somebody's cupboard?
VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSSNo, my Lords; the file was not "remaining in somebody's cupboard". There are limits to the amount of work which even a Home Office lawyer can do. It so hap 240 pens that another fire matter, the necessary ancillary provisions under the Fire Precautions Act, was judged to have priority. That may or may not have been correct, but a great deal of work had to be done under that legislation and that is what was happening before they dealt with these particular regulations.
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, is the Minister aware that there is a great deal of concern among women's organisations about this matter, because there have been some very distressing accidents as a result of unsatisfactory fireguards.
VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSSMy Lords, I am not at all surprised. The new standard prevents children from putting their hands through on to the element, and that standard is to be the basis of the regulations. As I have told the House, we are now consulting and we shall make the regulations as soon as we have finished that process.
BARONESS SUMMER SKILLMy Lords, may I ask the noble Viscount whether, in view of the delay, he will now pass the file to a lawyer in his Department who has small children?
VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSSMy Lords, I do not know that I can answer specifically about the marital and family status of the particular gentleman who is dealing with this.
LoRD JANNERMy Lords, in view of the fact that this matter has been raised for many years past, does not the noble Viscount think that it is high time the regulations should be rushed through? How long does the noble Viscount anticipate it will be before the actual regulations are produced?
VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSSMy Lords, we have asked for answers from consultees by the second of next month. Once we have those answers, we can get on with the final draft in the light of the response. I entirely agree that it is urgent and I hope that I have explained to the House, first, why it was not done before and, secondly, how it is now being handled as a matter of urgency.