§ Mr. Cockeramasked the Secretary of State for Trade what future consultations are planned with industries and trade associations on proposals for legislation on liability for defective products.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimI shall instigate such further consultations as may be necessary when I have received and studied the revised draft directive on product liability now being prepared by the EEC Commission.
§ Mr. Cockeramasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what representations have been made to him on the restriction of proposals for legislation on liability for defective products to non-work accidents; and whether he has come to any conclusions;
(2) what recommendations have been made to him in support of the recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission on liability for defective products in respect of the exclusion of building materials when incorporated into an immovable; and whether he has come to any conclusions.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimI have received representations from many organisations on proposals for changes in the law to make producers strictly liable for injury caused by defective products. Some have argued that accidents in the workplace should be excluded from the scope of any new regime; others have supported the recommendation of the Scottish Law Commission that a producer's liability 401W should cease once his product has been incorporated into another product or into an immovable. I have not yet reached any final conclusions on these or other matters arising from the various proposals and recommendations.