§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to consult the retail trade about implementation of the Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985; and how the trade was notified about the regulations.
§ Mr. HowardThe Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985 were the subject of two separate consultations in May and November 1984. Bodies representing the retail sector which were invited to comment on the proposals included the National Union of Small Shopkeepers, the Retail Alliance, the Retail Consortium and the Retail Distributors Association. In response to representtions from the trade, the period allowed before the regulations came into force was extended to 15 months.
A copy of the revised draft regulations, which were laid before the House in November 1985, was sent to all consultees. The regulations were made on 20 December 1985 and were publicised in British Business in January 1986. The Department's "Nightwear and Fire" guide to the regulations, which was published in September 1986, also received publicity in British Business and was featured in a number of trade magazines. Copies of the guide were sent direct to trade associations and individual suppliers and retailers who had contributed comments during the preparation of the regulations, or who had made their interest known to the Department at some later stage.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the retail trade about the treatment of stock in hand following implementation of the Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985.
§ Mr. HowardI met the trade associations, including the Retail Consortium, on 5 January this year to discuss their problems over implementing the 1985 regulations with respect to babies' garments by the due date of 1 March112W 1987. As a result I decided to introduce an amendment to the regulations which has since been approved by a resolution of each House.
The Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1987, which were made on 27 February, postpone, until 1 September 1987, the coming into force of those requirements of the 1985 regulations which relate to the testing, labelling and advertisement of babies' garments, as defined in regulation 3(1) of the 1985 regulations.