§ 88. Mr. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement upon safety standards for paraffin oil domestic heaters. having regard to the disaster 65W involving the deaths of five young children, dealt with by the Hertford coroner on Wednesday, 2nd December, 1959, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Kidderminster; what safety standards for such paraffin oil heaters have been prescribed or recommended by his Department; what steps are taken as to enforcement; whether, having regard to the millions of such paraffin oil portable domestic heaters now in daily use in this country, he will take immediate steps, by every means at his disposal, to recommend revised and improved safety standards; and what consideration he has given to the introduction of further legislation on this matter.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have no power to prescribe safety standards for domestic paraffin heaters. I understand that the relevant British Standard Specification for these appliances is at present being revised. I am also informed that the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are, with the co-operation of the manufacturers, undertaking tests of oil heaters of the type involved in the fire at Ware, and I shall consider whether any action on my part is necessary when the results of those tests are known.