§ Mr. RandallTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action the Government will be taking to ensure that only properly qualified electrical installation engineers are able to establish business in order to provide electrical installation services to the public.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 24 July 1989]: None.
§ Mr. RandallTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Government has to introduce a national register of qualified electrical installation engineers in order to protect the consumer.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 24 July 1989]: None. There is insufficient evidence that the benefits to be obtained from a registration scheme would warrant the cost and management effort that it would involve. However, the Government will continue to encourage the self-regulatory schemes operated by the Electrical Contractors' Association, the Electrical Contractors' Association for Scotland and the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contractors.
§ Mr. RandallTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Government will be taking to ensure that electrical installations comply with the 1081W generally accepted standards laid down in the IEEE regulations with the introduction of the free movement of labour within the European Economic Community in 1992.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 24 July 1989]: The treaty of Rome provides for free movement of labour, and overseas firms and individuals are already free to provide electrical installation services in the United Kingdom. However, the Government are considering whether electrical installations should be brought within the scope of the Building Regulations 1985.
§ Mr. RandallTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what training measures the Government will he taking to ensure that electrical installations are installed in a manner which makes them safe with the introduction of the free movement of labour within the European Economic Community in 1992.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 24 July 1989]: No additional training measures are necessary as the United Kingdom market is already open. Nevertheless the Government will continue to give encouragement to the high level of training already provided by employers in the electrical contracting industry and by the Electrical Electronic Telecommunications and Plumbing Union.
§ Mr. RandallTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of fires is attributed to faulty electrical installations.
§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 24 July 1989]: I have been asked to reply. In 1987, 17 per cent. of accidental fires in occupied buildings, in the United Kingdom, attended by local authority fire brigades were attributed to faulty electrical appliances and installations. More detailed information is published in table 49a of the Home Office annual report "Fire Statistics United Kingdom 1987" a copy of which is in the Library.