§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has sought to obtain any evidence of a link between sudden infant death syndrome and the use of fire-retardant materials in mattresses for young children.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe chief medical officer has established an expert working group to consider the hypothesis that toxic gases may be released by fungal action on components of mattresses, including antimony and phosphorous based fire retardants, and that this may be a cause of sudden infant death syndrome. Their report is expected shortly.