§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What evidence they have of evasions of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations made under the Consumer Protection Act 1998; and what action the Department of Trade and Industry is taking to address any breaches of the legislation. [HL2934]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1998 are enforced by local 73WA authorities, which have powers to suspend the supply of products which do not meet the requirements of the regulations, to seize such products, and to prosecute suppliers. This department collates statistics on prosecutions under the regulations every five years and publishes them in a statutory report on consumer safety. The most recent report, published in 1998, records that 404 prosecutions were brought under the regulations between April 1993 and March 1998, of which 398 resulted in conviction.