§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to review the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. [60783]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonOver the last year the Department has consulted with a wide range of interested parties about the effectiveness of the Regulations. I have looked carefully at the results of the consultation.
The most important point to emerge is that more needs to be done to stop potentially dangerous items of furniture being placed on the UK market.
Overall, the Regulations are well-established and fit for purpose and set the high safety requirements that are needed to protect consumers. They have saved hundreds of lives since they were introduced.
I have therefore concluded that although a revision of the Regulations might bring about some small technical improvements, it is not the most effective way of maintaining the necessary high level of consumer protection. Instead, I want to focus on improving the enforcement of the Regulations. I will therefore be meeting with the enforcement authorities, industry 590W representatives and others shortly to agree what action is needed and to identify what the department can do to help.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what estimate she has made of the number of incidences of pieces of furniture being sold in the UK which are non-compliant under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988; [60784]
(2) what action she is taking to remove the potential harm presented by the supply of furniture that is in non-compliance with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended). [60782]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonRecords of instances of sales of non-compliant furniture under the Regulations are not held centrally.
However, I am concerned at recent reports that non-compliant furniture is being sold in the UK. I will shortly be meeting with representatives of Trading Standards Departments, the furniture industry and other interested parties to discuss the identified problems with non-compliance and to consider what needs to be done in order to ensure that consumers are properly protected and that all those who market furniture in the UK are competing on a level playing field.