§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what urgent action he is taking to prevent the import of dangerous lamps containing chlorinated hydrocarbons; what information he has of the number of these lamps that have been distributed by wholesalers; how many have been sold to the public; and if he will identify those regions of the United Kingdom in which the lamps are known to be on sale.
§ Mr. John FraserI have no power to prevent the importation of these lamps but, in common with all other mains-operated domestic electrical equipment, they must, when sold by importers or any other trader, comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1975, which include a provision relating to the emission of toxic gases.
My Department will shortly be writing to all known importers and United Kingdom manufacturers of lamps of this kind, drawing their attention to those regulations and to the need for the lamps to bear advice on safe usage and the precautions to be taken in the event of breakage. The number of lamps sold is not known; they appear to have been distributed throughout the United Kingdom.