§ 29. Mr. Patrick McNair-WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Civil Aviation Authority has yet produced its specification for passenger smoke hoods; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Civil Aviation Authority is wholly responsible for aviation safety regulation. The CAA has informed us that it has produced a further draft of its specification for passenger smoke hoods which has been circulated to interested parties for comment. The CAA expects to be able to finalise the specification in April.
§ 43. Mr. AspinwallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to introduce regulations regarding the retail sale of airline passenger protection smoke hoods.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe sale of smoke hoods, whether for use by airline passengers or the public at large, is a commercial matter. There are no plans to introduce regulations governing their sale to airline passengers. The sale of any consumer product is now covered by the general safety requirement under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, which makes it a criminal offence to supply any consumer product that is not reasonably safe.