§ 47. Mr. Gregoryasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value in 1986 of goods imported which come within the scope of the Consumer Safety (Amendment) Act 1986; and if he is in a position to make any estimate for 1987.
§ Mr. HowardThe scope of the Consumer Safety (Amendment) Act 1986 is restricted to products covered by consumer safety legislation—namely, toys, cosmetics, certain textiles, domestic electrical appliances, and miscellaneous other goods. It would not be possible accurately to discover the total value of goods in these categories imported during 1986 or likely to be imported during 1987. But the provisions in the Act will, if the proposal for a general safety requirement in the Consumer Protection Bill currently before Parliament is enacted, apply to all consumer goods supplied in the United Kingdom with the exception of food and drink, controlled medicines, road vehicles and tobacco. The value of such consumer goods imported annually into this country is approximately £28 billion.