§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out the representations his Department has made on the European Commission's lifejacket proposals.
§ Mr. LeighI take it that my hon. Friend is referring to the Community Directive on Personal Protective Equipment (89/686/EEC) which was adopted in December 1989 and which applies inter alia to lifejackets designed for continuous use rather than in emergencies only.
During the negotiations on the draft directive, my Department put forward proposals to amplify the basic safety requirements on lifejackets and buoyancy aids, which were largely accepted.