HC Deb 07 February 1984 vol 53 cc528-9W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he had with the manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers of scented erasers before he introduced an order on 30 January banning the sale of certain such items.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

I am not required under the Consumer Safety Act 1978 to carry out consultations before making a prohibition order under section 3(1)(a) and (2), and paragraph 5 of schedule 1 to that Act.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many young persons and children were injured, damaged or otherwise incapaitated by the possession of or contact with scented erasers in each of the past 10 years.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The available statistics do not separately identify injuries caused by scented erasers, although accidents involving such erasers have been reported.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has of the numbers and value of scented erasers imported in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and if he has any information about the value of stocks of such erasers at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

None: scented erasers are not separately identified in official statistics.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the loss experienced by traders holding stocks of scented erasers on the date he published the order banning the sale of such items.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

I am not required under the Consumer Safety Act 1978 to make an assessment of loss to traders who supply products which are considered unsafe.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to exempt from the Scented Erasers (Safety) Order those scented erasers which do not have the shape or appearance of items of food or sweets.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

No. The feature that distinguishes these erasers from other small everyday objects is their strong attractive smell; this alone could suffice to tempt a very young child to put one in its mouth and possibly choke as a result.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement outlining the specific risks of danger which led him to table the Scented Erasers (Safety) Order under paragraph 5 of schedule 1 to the Consumer Safety Act.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

I made the order under the emergency procedure because I judged these scented erasers posed a risk of death by choking to very young children. There have been several recorded accidents involving such erasers.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance he has given to trading standards officers on how they should assess the degree to which scented erasers smell of food or flowers, as they are required to do under the Scented Erasers (Safety) Order.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

None; definitions in the order ale considered adequate for enforcement purposes.