§ Mr. Haselhurstasked the Secretary of State for Trade what estimate he has made of the proportion of furniture currently on sale which will have to carry a warning label once the Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations 1980 have been approved.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimOn the basis of information provided by the furniture industry, my Department has estimated that approximately 90 per cent. of domestic upholstered seating furniture of a type currently on sale would be required to bear labels warning either of ignitability by cigarettes or matches once the Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations 1980 have come into effect, unless it were modified to enable it to satisfy the performance criteria prescribed by the regulations.
§ Mr. Haselhurstasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in drafting the Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations 1980, he received evidence as to the 376W portion of furniture on sale in the United Kingdom which passes both the cigarette and butane flame tests specified in British Standard 5852 and as to the proportion which pass one test only; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimI have received information from the furniture industry during the preparation of the draft Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations 1980 which indicates that 10 per cent. of domestic upholstered seating furniture currently on sale can be expected to pass both the smouldering cigarette and butane flame tests specified in British Standard 5852: part 1 and that 70 per cent. can be expected to pass one test only.