§ Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when the final report on the research sponsored by the Government into the fire hazards of plastic materials used in the manufacture of furniture is to be published; and what action she proposes to take in the light of this report.
§ Mr. John FraserThe report on the third and final year of this research, undertaken by the Rubber and Plastics Research Association under the direction of the Fire Research Station, is being published today by the Building Research Establishment. My Department has asked the British Furniture Manufacturers'
276WFederated Associations to recommend to their members that they should take the findings in this report into account in deciding on the composition and design of the upholstered furniture they produce. Until suitable fire test methods become available as a result of further research now being undertaken, it is not practicable to impose regulatory controls on the sale of furniture. The report is however being studied in depth with our expert advisers on flammability to see whether any additional interim guidance is possible.