HC Deb 10 June 1992 vol 209 cc206-7W
Mr. Fraser

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigations his Department has made into the safety of the fabric known as ramie.

Mr. Leigh

Ramie is a natural fibre that has long been used in clothing fabrics. If it is used to give a fluffy effect to the surface of the fabric, loose fibres can catch fire. However, the flammability of a garment can be reduced when other fibres are introduced.

My Department will be holding an early meeting with major clothing retailers to discuss what might be done about the marketing of potentially unsafe fashionwear.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many incidents of garments containing ramie catching fire have occurred in the past 18 months.

Mr. Leigh

[holding answer 8 June 1992]: Available statistics on clothing fires do not give information on the fibre content of the garments involved.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce safety standards for flammable materials in garments.

Mr. Leigh

[holding answer 8 June 1992]: My Department has commissioned an initial research project into the burning behaviour of fabrics, particularly those used in lightwear garments. This work will be presented to the British Standards Institution as a basis for the preparation of appropriate safety standards.