asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations have been received on the dangers of phosphorus non-safety matches; and what evidence there is to indicate that such matches are dangerous, in particular arising from the sale of such matches to children.

Representations have recently been received from two sources about the dangers of phosphorus matches in cotton textile factories. There is no evidence to suggest that phosphorus matches present any greater hazard than matches sold as safety matches. There are dangers in the sale of any matches to children, but in the majority of incidents where children cause fires as a result of playing with matches the matches are found by them in the home.