§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will introduce legislation to restrict the sale of aerosol containers to persons aged 18 years and over.
Mr. Alan WilliamsI assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the dangers of sniffing the propellant gases used in aerosols. I share his concern, but there are many other substances which may be misused in this way. To be effective, a ban on their sale to young people would have to apply to a wide range of domestic products, and would be difficult to justify in view of the small number of those who misuse them. We are seeking ways to discourage this abuse and have asked the Health Education Council for its advice.