§ Mrs. Ann Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations will be made; and whether they will permit the continued sale of washing machines and spin dryers not complying with the interlocking provisions in the revised British Standards which came into effect on 1st April this year.
Mr. Alan WilliamsI intend to make these regulations shortly, which will prescribe general safety requirements applying to all electrical equipment sold for use in the home. With one or two exceptions, the prescribed requirements will come into force for all sections of the trade on 1st September 1975. Retailers and wholesalers will be allowed a transitional period until 1st January 1976 to sell washing machines and spin dryers made in accordance with the less stringent interlocking provisions in British Standard 3456: Section 2.12, as originally published in 1970, without contravening the mechanical safety requirement in the regulations.