§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield, Official Report, 15 April, column 19, if he will give details of the European Economic Community Commission's request for the introduction of new regulations on the safety of child buggy pushchairs to be suspended; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FletcherThe Commission of the European Communities notified the Government in a letter dated 20 March 1985 that it considered the proposed Pushchairs (Safety) Regulations would hamper the free movement of goods between member states in breach of article 30 of the Treaty of Rome. The Government have responded to the Commission that the proposed regulations are needed on grounds of public health and safety, and are thus fully warranted under article 36 of the treaty. The Commission has been asked to reconsider its position.
There is a further issue. The Commission had earlier notified member states of its intention to propose a directive relating to the control of chemical substances, dangerous to health, where these substances are present in objects manifestly intended for children. The Commission considers that pushchairs will be covered by the proposal and that article 9 of Directive 83/189/EEC suspends our proposed regulations until 30 October 1985.
As the Government believe the proposal is only marginal to the subject of pushchairs, and as any agreed directive may turn out to be compatible with the chemical hazards part of the new pushchairs regulations, the Commission has been asked to reflect again on its position.