HC Deb 09 February 1998 vol 306 cc95-6W
Mrs. Brinton

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make it her policy to introduce tighter restrictions on the sale of second-hand gas appliances. [28569]

Mr. Battle

My Department is presently carrying out a detailed analysis following a formal consultation exercise on proposed safety Regulations for second-hand gas appliances. Decision on future policy will be made when the analysis is complete.

In the meantime, the safety of second-hand gas appliances is currently regulated by a combination of Regulations covering specific products, the Gas Cooking Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1989 and the Heating Appliances (Fireguarding)(Safety) Regulations 1991. For other types of gas appliances the General Product Safety Regulations 1994 apply. Taken together, this legislation generally provides that suppliers of second-hand gas appliances must ensure that only safe appliances can be marketed.