§ Mr. Cashasked the Minister for the Arts what advice he has given to public library authorities on the possible effect on the discharge of their functions of clauses 10 and 46(1)(a) of the Consumer Protection Bill.
§ Mr. Luce[pursuant to his reply, 1 April 1987]: None. Clause 10 of the Bill creates the offence of supplying consumer goods, including hooks, which fail to comply with the general safety requirement. It does not relate to risks of death or personal injury which might arise by virtue of a person's relying on or being influenced by what is printed in a book. The definition of "safe" in clause 19 makes that clear. A public library authority will be liable only if it supplies (a term defined in clause 46) consumer goods which are not reasonably safe having regard to all circumstances.