§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received about standards of safety in electrical installation in buildings for which he is responsible and in property owned by local authorities; if he is considering recommending the use of circuit breakers to prevent accidents; if he will introduce mandatory measures for controlling electrical installations; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what recent representations he has received about standards of safety in electrical installation work in domestic and commercial buildings; if he will consider a system of registration of those undertaking this work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Department has received representations about standards of safety in electrical installation work from the Institute of Electrical Engineers, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Electrical Cable Makers Confederation in response to the technical review of the building regulations.
I accept that circuit breakers can play an important part in guarding against the misuse of normally safe installations and the hazards of faulty appliances. The IEE wiring regulations, which require the installation of circuit breakers in circumstances where a traditional method of earthing would not be appropriate, are very widely observed throughout the United Kingdom wherever new houses are constructed or rewiring undertaken. The representations made on electrical safety are being carefully considered but I do believe there is a case for leaving it to be covered by the IEE regulations rather than by introducing further legislation.