§ 45. Sir B. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from local authorities about the sale of balloons filled with hydrogen in view of the danger to children should such balloons come in contact with fire; and if he will take steps to ensure that they are filled only with a safe gas.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Association of Municipal Corporations has recently recommended legislation requiring lighter-than-air balloons to be filled only with a safe gas such as helium. Unfortunately helium is much too expensive for this purpose and since only eleven cases of hydrogen-filled balloons exploding have been reported in the last 40 years and the resulting injuries have all been of a minor nature, I am not convinced of the need for legislation. The Home Office has already taken steps in other ways to discourage the sale and distribution of hydrogen-filled balloons.