§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to inform furniture retailers of the new foam insulation regulations coming into force on 1 March.
§ Mr. ForthA total of 1,500 copies of the draft regulations were sent out on 1 March 1988. I then relied upon the usual channels of communication. The final regulations were submitted to Parliament in July, and interested parties were informed. These included the media generally, the trade press, local authority trading standards departments and all relevant trade associations. I am advised that the foam suppliers in particular have been meticulous in advising their customers about how their products comply with the new legal requirements. Guidance notes for the trade, which take account of initial reactions to the regulations, are being prepared and will be widely distributed soon.
I have not written to every furniture retailer in the country. The Department does not have a list of all such retailers' names and addresses.