HC Deb 25 June 1992 vol 210 cc293-4W
Mr. Illsley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to include BS 7449: 1991 within a forthcoming European safety standard for glass used in furniture manufacture.

Mr. Leigh

British Standard 7449: 1991 has been put forward to the European standards body—by the British Standards Institution as a basis for the inclusion of glass specifications in a draft European standard on safety requirements for cabinets and general storage furniture for domestic use.

Mr. Illsley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends to include BS 7449: 1991 within the general safety requirment.

Mr. Leigh

Standards of safety are relevant for the purposes of the general safety requirement as soon as they are published. British Standard 7449: 1991—Specification for inclusion of glass in the construction of furniture, other than tables or trolleys, including cabinets, shelving systems and wall hung or free standing mirrors—was published by the British Standards Institution in June 1991. From this date it has been open to the courts to take account of BS 7449 when deciding whether the relevant products satisfy the general safety requirement in relation to aspects covered by this standard.