§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing 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 preliminary statement on product safety in the EEC as proposed in the pamphlet Better Safe submitted to them by the Consumers in the European Community Group (UK) and if not, when they expect to do so.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)My Lords, we welcome the publication and support the views of the Consumers in the European Community Group expressed in that booklet. We are encouraging the Commission to concentrate more on safety measures, where Community co-operation is needed. We are pressing particularly for progress on the Toy Safety Directive, and for extension of our home accident surveillance system on a Community-wide basis. Where Community procedures are slow we have to consider taking action on a national basis to protect consumers from known hazards. We shall be introducing our own legislation on a general safety requirement and to require child-resistant packaging for dangerous household chemicals, and shall continue to press for action on a Community front on harmonisation of safety standards and other measures where the Community has a significant role.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that most welcome statement, but may I ask him one question? Where dangerous products are notified to the Commision, would the Government feel able to suggest that the public be made aware of them?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, it is a little difficult for me to commit the Commision to making public all the matters that are put before it. I suggest that the noble Baroness herself, with her knowledge of consumer matters, might be a better way of ensuring that the public are made aware of concerns in that regard.
Lord Bruce of DoningtonMy Lords, the noble Lord has been kind enough to indicate that the Government propose to bring in legislation in due course. Will he give the House an assurance that, when legislation is brought in, the Government will give serious prior consideration to the means of enforcement of that legislation? Experience in the past has indicated—and, 798 indeed, present experience indicates—that no matter what the laws are in regard to safety, they are very frequently ignored and the means of enforcement are very inadequate.
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, of course I recognise the noble Lord's concern in this matter. The measures that are proposed in our White Paper on the suspension of supply, powers of seizure and cooperation of the enforcement authorities with Customs and Excise, should go a long way to prevent dangerous goods from reaching the shops. It is certainly our intention to stiffen up the enforcement procedures.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, the Minister mentioned the home accident surveillance scheme, which was set up in this country in 1976 and which I believe his department is helping to propagate. Can he say what progress has been made in the Community to having such a scheme there?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, progress is very far advanced in that regard. One or two member states still have some reservations on points of detail and on the financial implications which still have to be sorted out. We hope to be able to secure agreement on a system before very much longer.
§ Lord Allen of AbbeydaleMy Lords, may I ask whether the forthcoming legislation will cover the recent convention on product liability and enable us to discharge our obligations under that agreement?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthYes, my Lords.