Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988

HC Deb 15 October 2002 vol 390 cc676-7W

Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will publish the results of her Department's review of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 and the submissions which were made to that review;[73751]

(2) if she will make a statement on the outcome of her meetings with enforcement authorities, industry representatives and others, to discuss improved enforcement of the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, indicating the dates of those meetings and the organisations represented at them. [73752]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Last year the Department consulted with a wide range of interested parties about the effectiveness of the Regulations. I looked carefully at the results and concluded that their main concern was on improving the enforcement of the Regulations.

To take matters forward I held two meetings with representatives from enforcement and industry.

I was very encouraged by the progress made in both meetings. Enforcement is the key issue to ensure that consumers can be confident that the furniture they buy meets UK safety standards.