§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) since the introduction of the Electric Blanket (Safety) Regulations 1971, what has been the annual total of accidents for each year since their introduction; and what has been the total number of deaths each year since their introduction;
(2) how many fatalities have occurred each year since the 1971 Electric Blanket Safety Regulations were introduced;
16W(3) what were the ages and sexes of people involved in fatal accidents concerning electric blankets in each year since the safety regulations were introduced in 1971.
§ Mr. John FraserTotal figures of accidents involving electric blankets are not available. The following table shows for each year, by age and sex, the numbers of electric blanket deaths in England and Wales that have come to my Department's attention. Figures for 1976 are not yet available.
1972 1973 1974 1975 0–9: Male … 1 0 0 1 Female … 2 3 1 1 10–19: Male … 0 0 0 0 Female … 1 0 0 0 20–29: Male … 0 0 2 0 Female … 0 0 0 2 30–39: Male … 0 1 1 1 Female … 0 0 0 0 40–49: Male … 0 1 0 0 Female … 0 1 1 0 50–59: Male … 2 1 1 0 Female … 1 1 0 1 60–69: Male … 0 1 1 1 Female … 2 1 5 0 70–79: Male … 3 1 0 0 Female … 12 4 8 4 Over 80: Male … 1 3 3 5 Female … 4 4 9 7 Total: Male … 7 8 8 8 Female … 22 14 24 15 Total … 29 22 32 23
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the number of electric blanket fires attended each year by fire brigades since 1971.
§ Mr. John FraserThe latest available figures are: 1972, 1,660; 1973, 1,574; 1974, 1,647.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many of the electric blankets involved in fires and accidents since 1971 were BEAB approved.
§ Mr. John FraserI regret that this information is not available, since in the 17W majority of cases the blankets were too severely damaged to enable any identification to be made.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that safety regulations for electric blankets are improved;
(2) what research is being undertaken into the safety of electric blankets;
(3) what discussions he is having with the manufacturers of British blankets in an effort to improve safety regulations of electric blankets.
§ Mr. John FraserMy Department maintains close contact with the British Electrotechnical Approvals Board and the Electricity Council on matters relating to the safety of electric blankets, and takes part, with representatives of manufacturers and consumers, in the appropriate Technical Committee of the British Standards Institution.
If the committee produces an improved safety standard for electric blankets I shall consider amending the regulations. But as most accidents involving electric blankets are caused by misuse it is difficult to reduce their number without putting the cost of the blankets beyond the pockets of those who need them most.
My Department also carries out surveys of particular problems from time to time: for example, a survey of fires in England and Wales attended by fire brigades, and where overblankets were likely to have been involved, was carried out in the winter of 1975–76. The results were published in my Electrical Adviser's report, "A Commentary on Electrical Fatalities in the Home 1974–75" (page 8), copies of which were placed in the Library in December.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what steps he is taking to ensure that people, particularly elderly persons, are aware of the dangers arising from the misuse of electric blankets.
§ Mr. John FraserThe Electric Blankets (Safety) Regulations 1971 include provisions which require electric blankets to be marked with warnings against misuse, such as switching on the blanket when it is wet, or using overblankets or under-18W blankets otherwise than as intended. Similar safety labelling regarding appropriate use is required on the box or container of an individually packed electric blanket. My Department also promotes publicity in the form of four filler films which are shown on television in breaks between programmes, and has made radio tapes for the use of local radio stations. We keep in close touch with safety organisations such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and are always ready to assist the media with advice and information on electric blanket safety.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what information is received about steps being taken by other countries to improve the safety of electric blankets.
§ Mr. John FraserMy Department is represented on international committees dealing with the safety of electric blankets and receives a large amount of information about requirements in other countries. In general, these are less stringent than ours.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many accidents and fatalities were caused by blankets not manufactured in the United Kingdom since 1971; and from which countries the blankets were imported.
§ Mr. John FraserVery few electric blankets are imported into this country. We know of only two imported blankets being involved in fires in this period, and both were bought by their owners abroad.