HC Deb 19 December 1973 vol 866 cc314-6W
Mr. Ronald Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take urgent action, subsequent upon the Executive Board of the British Standards Institution placing on record with him its concern at the implications for public safety of fire hazards associated with the use of synthetic organic polymeric materials such as rigid and expanded poly-urethane foam, on its request for increased Government funding to extend and accelerate the current research projects related to this problem;

(2) if he will publish in the Official Report the letter sent to him by the Executive Board of the British Standards Institution on 5th November 1973 concerning fire tests for polymeric materials such as rigid and expanded polyurethane foam;

(3) if he has now received the letter from the British Standards Institution to the effect that the expenditure of £50,000 by the Fire Research Station on research into the fire characteristics of synthetic organic polymeric materials is inadequate in view of the complexity of the problem, the degree of technical uncertainty and the possible risks to public safety; and if he will now reconsider his decision not to prohibit the use of rigid polyurethane foam in television cabinet manufacture until satisfactory new standards have been set.

Mr. Channon

The letter to which the hon. Member refers was the subject of a meeting held today between officials of my Department and representatives of the British Standards Institution. It would be inappropriate to publish the letter at this stage but I will report the results of the discussions to the hon. Member. My Department shares the BSI view of the importance of this subject and has over the past two years increased substantially that part of the Fire Research Station's programme on fire safety which relates to the properties of plastics in fire, including the generation of toxic gases and smoke. It will consider the case for a further expansion of such research in relation to the risks entailed in all aspects of fire and their demands for research. The question of whether or not to prohibit the use of polyurethane foam in the manufacture of television cabinets is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.