§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to review the regulations covering the fire resistance of fabrics used in the manufacture of household furniture; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Howard[pursuant to his reply, 24 October 1986]; The present regulations relating to upholstered furniture specify resistance to smouldering cigarettes and labelling to indicate the result of a match flame test, not for the fabric alone, but for the combined upholstery. As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) on 1 July, at column 465, the industry is developing a code of practice, which it is to complete not later than November 1987, on which legislation introducing a requirement for match flame resistance will be based. I have no other plans to introduce legislation on the fire resistance of the fabrics used in the manufacture of furniture.