§ Mr. Holtasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consultations were held within the European Economic Community before the issuing of the new code of practice to the domestic furniture industry.
§ Mr. MaudeNo consultations were held within the European Economic Community before the issue of a consultation document on the code of practice approach on extension of regulations. Within the United Kingdom the document was circulated widely to fire prevention authorities, consumer organisations, enforcement authorities and others as well as to the furniture manufacturers and their suppliers of component materials.
If and when this code of practice is built into draft regulations we shall notify the EC Commission as required by directive No. 189/83 on the provision of information on technical standards and regulations.
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§ Mr. Holtasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what criteria were used to establish the new code of practice for the furniture industry.
§ Mr. MaudeAs my predecessor informed the House on 1 July 1986, at columns 467–68, the terms of reference of the working party asked to prepare a code of practice were
to develop a standard or code of practice which would give worthwhile progress in fire resistance qualities in upholstered furniture and could be called up in enforceable regulations".
§ Mr. Holtasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements are being made to monitor the effects of the new code of practice for the furniture industry.
§ Mr. MaudeThe draft code of practice has only recently been issued for consultation, and is not yet in force. The Government accept the importation of monitoring the effect of safety regulations. Thus reports on the effects of the Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations 1980, made under the Consumer Safety Act, were provided by the enforcement authorities.
I shall give careful consideration in due course to how the effects of new safety regulations for upholstered furniture can best be monitored.
§ Mr. Holtasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many meetings were held between furniture manufacturers and Ministers prior to the issuing of the new codes of practice; and how many meetings have been arranged for the next six months;
(2) what plans he has to discuss the problem of fires involving furniture ignited by cigarettes, cigars, pipes, matches and electricity with the furniture industry.
§ Mr. MaudeMy predecessor, my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard), held one meeting with the British Furniture Manufacturers Federation on 22 January 1986. There have been no meetings with Ministers since and none is yet planned for the next six months. Officials of the Department have frequent meetings with furniture manufacturers, and I am always prepared to meet representatives of that (or any other) sector of industry when matters of importance concerning consumer safety legislation are under review.