§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the number of business failures in the shops, auctions and car boot sales markets likely when the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1992 are implemented; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 23 February 1993]: The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations, as amended, which have been the subject of public consultation have been introduced progressively since 1988. My Department believes that the period of grace provided for non-complying furniture represents a fair balance between the needs of business and the safety interests of consumers. Statistics on the number of businesses supplying upholstered furniture are not available.
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§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will now apply the criteria of the deregulation initiative to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1992.
§ Mr. Neil Hamilton[holding answer 23 February 1993]: Like all Government regulations, the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 as amended will be subject to review by the sectoral deregulation task forces of business men which are currently being set up following the Prime Minister's deregulation seminar on 2 February 1993. The deregulation criterion of proportionality between the degree of regulation and the risk of public safety was explicitly addressed during the consultation period preceding the introduction of the regulations.