§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the continuing deaths directly attributable to fires involving polyurethane foam, he will now take steps to publicise the dangers of such fires as proposed in the debate in the House on the Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations; and if he will review the effectiveness of preventive measures in this field.
§ Mr. MayhewSo far as the question of publicity is concerned, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the written answer I gave on 11 December to his earlier question on the dangers of polyurethane foam. In November 1978 a technical sub-committee of the central fire brigades advisory councils for England and Wales and for Scotland reported on the precautions which need to be taken to meet the potential hazard presented by the use of new materials. The report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, made a number of helpful recommendations which the Government have accepted, and my right hon. Friend sees no need for a further review.