§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will undertake an immediate review of the Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations with a view to improving the present labelling procedure regarding polyurethane furniture; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will now take steps to include mandatory match tests in the Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimOn improving the present labelling procedures, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 11 December.
On the inclusion of mandatory match tests in the regulations, I have made it plain that I should propose amendments prohibiting the sale of upholstered furniture that could not pass the match as well as the cigarette test once it was clear that an adequate range of furniture able to pass the tests was likely to be available. My officials have established a working group with representatives of the textile and furniture trades and research establishments to monitor progress. As a result, research, partly funded by my Department, has recently been started by the Furniture Industry Research Association to see whether a fire retarding coating might enable a wide range of furniture to pass both tests and remain sufficiently attractive to the consumer.