§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) whether he will introduce legislation to ban pen tops of the type that caused the death of Billie Walker, of Braunstone, Leicester;
(2) whether he will institute research into the safety of pens available to schoolchildren;
(3) whether he will consult Biro Bic Ltd. to seek the voluntary withdrawal by them from the market of pens with the type of tops which caused the death of Billie Walker of Braunstone, Leicester.
§ Mr. MaudeI refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the answer given in respect of his oral question on Monday.
My officials will be monitoring the progress being made towards introducing safer models both by the supplier of the pen top implicated in the death of Billie Walker and of other pen suppliers. I have no plans to introduce specific legislation on pen tops, but suppliers are already obliged, under the general safety requirement of the Consumer Protection Act 1987, to supply consumer goods, including pens, which are reasonably safe having regard to all the circumstances. Producers and importers will also be subject to the product liability provisions of the Act, which come into force on 1 March.