§ Mr. Geoffrey Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what complaints he has received that a certain type of imported glass is liable to explode without warning; and what steps he is taking to investigate these complaints with a view to warning consumers and retailers and ensuring that no further supplies of such glass are imported.
§ Mr. SharplesA number of complaints have been received about cups and other articles made from toughened glassware which have disintegrated spontaneously. Investigations have indicated that the tendency for articles made from tempered or toughened glass to shatter spontaneously into crystalline pieces is unavoidable but that this does not occur to any significant extent and is unlikely to cause injury. On present information, my 203W right hon. Friend does not consider that objection can reasonably be raised to the importation and sale of glassware of this kind.