§ Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that coloured pencils imported from Germany and being sold in the Slough area under the trade name EMU contain 3–75 per cent. of lead in their paint, and that this is more than three times the permitted maximum laid down by the British Standards Institute and constitutes a grave danger to children; and, in view of the inability of local medical officers to ensure the elimination of this danger by local action, whether he will take steps to ban the import of pencils and toys whose paintwork contains more lead than that stipulated by the British Standards Institute.
§ Sir F. SoskiceI am aware, from reports received from a number of Medical Officers of Health, of the hazard to children which may be presented by these and other imported coloured pencils. For the action already taken in this matter, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 2nd April in replying to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Mr. Ioan L. Evans). I am considering the possibility of taking further action by means of regulations under the Consumer Protection Act. So far as children's toys are concerned, a restriction on the lead content of the paint used will be included in regulations dealing with other safety aspects of toys which are now being prepared under the Consumer Protection Act.