§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what discussions her Department has had with cot manufacturers about the introduction of regulations based on the revised safety standards recommended by the British Standards Institutions to BS 1753.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) whether, in view of recent cases of infants who have been accidentally strangled when their knitted garments became hooked upon the protruding ends of the guide rods of their cots, she will take immediate steps to introduce regulations based on the safety requirements of the revised standards of the British Standards Institution (BS 1753);
(2) whether she will immediately forbid the sale of all children's cots which do not satisfy the revised standards of the British Standards Institution (BS 1753);
(3) how many children have died in England and Wales in each of the past five years as a result of accidental strangulation caused by their knitted garments becoming hooked upon the protruding ends of guide rods of cots which do not satisfy the requirements of the revised standards of the British Standards Institution (BS 1753);
(4) whether, in view of recent cases of infants who have been accidentally strangled when their knitted garments became hooked upon the protruding ends of the guide rods of their cots, he will take immediate steps to inform the public of the dangers of children's cots which do not satisfy the revised standards of the British Standards Institution (BS 1753) and urge the appropriate adaptation of such cots;
(5) whether, in view of recent cases of infants who have been accidentally 462W strangled when their knitted garments became hooked upon the protruding ends of the guide rods of their cots, he will take immediate steps to inform the public of the dangers of children's cots which do not satisfy the revised standards of the British Standards Institution (BS 1753) and urge the appropriate adaptation of such cots.
§ Mr. John FraserI have been asked to reply also to Questions Nos. 136 to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and 42 to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Comprehensive information on an annual basis is not available, but I am aware of five deaths of children from this cause in England and Wales since 1972, of which four have occurred within the last year. Despite inquiries, it has not been possible to ascertain whether the cots involved complied with BS 1753. The British Standards Institution is urgently engaged in reviewing this Standard, in consultation with my Department, and with manufacturers and consumers and medical interests. I shall certainly consider sympathetically making regulations based on the safety provisions of a revised Standard, after further consultation with manufacturers and others interested. Meanwhile, I am urgently considering, with my Department's medical advisers, what advice can be given to parents on avoiding accidents of this type.