asked the Minister for Trade, further to his parliamentary replies of 8 December, Official Report, c. 521, if he will now give details of his proposals to improve the safety of toys, electrical goods and other products.
I am not yet in a position to do so, but I hope to give the House full details before long.
asked the Minister for Trade if he will take steps to extend the use of child resistant closures to a wider range of dangerous products in common household use; and if he will make a statement.
The mandatory use of child resistant closures—CRCs—is confined to certain solid-dose medicines. Any extension to chemical products in common household use would depend on the outcome of current work in the International Standards Organisation. If a suitable standard is forthcoming, I intend to seek expert advice from industry, medical and consumer interests and enforcement authorities on the practicability of requiring CRCs for particular products.
asked the Minister for Trade what are the latest figures available for accidents to children arising from dangerous products in common household use.
The latest figures for home accidents to children are reported from a sample of 20 hospitals, given in "The Home Accident Surveillance System: 1981—Presentation of Twelve Months' Data"—HASS 1981—published on 7 December by my Department. The figures for products involved are not, however, related to particular age groups. If the hon. Member is primarily concerned with the numbers of young children suspected of swallowing certain household products, the figures are as follows:
Table One: | |||||
The numbers of children reported to HASS as cases of suspected swallowing of household cleaners, kitchen chemiclas etc. by age. | |||||
Substance | Age | ||||
0–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–4 | 4–5 | |
Window Cleaning Fluid | 1 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Scouring pad | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Oven Cleaner | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Sterlising Liquid/ Tablets | 4 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Ammonia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Caustic Soda | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Bleach-Liquid | 4 | 35 | 39 | 11 | 6 |
-Other | |||||
Specified | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Detergent/Washing Powder | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Washing Liquid for Clothes | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Washing Up Liquid | 3 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Polish-Floor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-Furniture | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
-Metal | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Shoe Polish | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Shoe Dye | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Polish-Other Specified | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-Other | |||||
Unspecified | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Disinfectant | 4 | 52 | 33 | 10 | 2 |
Air Freshner | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Lavatory Deodorant/ Cleaner | 1 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
Surgical Spirit | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
General Cleaner | 0 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Chemical | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
Other Specified Cleaners | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Other Unspecified Cleaners | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dye | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Defrosting Liquid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 33 | 190 | 140 | 28 | 15 |
Source: HASS 1981
Table Two:
| |||||
The numbers of children reported to HASS as cases of suspected swallowing of DIY and Gardening Chemicals, Liquid Fluids, Pesticides etc.
| |||||
Substance
| Age
| ||||
0–1
| 1–2
| 2–3
| 3–4
| 4–5
| |
Paint (Decorating) | 0 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Varnishes | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Glue/Paste/ Adhesive | 4 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
Paint Stripper/Thinner | 0 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
Paint (Unspecified) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Putty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tar/Pitch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Creosote | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Solvents | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Petrol | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Paraffin | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Grease/Oil-not cooking | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Lighter Fuel | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Methylated Spirit | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Turpentine/White Spirit | 4 | 71 | 35 | 7 | 3 |
Acid | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Antifreeze | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Unspecified Grease/ Oil | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Brake Fluid | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Other Flammable/ Corrosive Liquid | |||||
- Specified | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
- Unspecified | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Weedkiller | 0 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Fertiliser | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Animal/Insect Poisons (Not Rat) | 4 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
Rat/Mouse Poison | 5 | 30 | 16 | 4 | 2 |
Mothballs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Paint (Artists Type) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Total | 21 | 166 | 111 | 28 | 11 |
Source: HASS 1981
Table Three:
| |||||
The numbers of children reported to HASS as cases of suspected swallowing of Cosmetics and Toiletries
| |||||
Substance
| Age
| ||||
0–1
| 1–2
| 2–3
| 3–4
| 4–5
| |
Hair Treatments | 1 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
Soap | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Toothpaste | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Hair/Remover | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cosmetics | 4 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Shaving Aids | 0 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 0 |
Bath Oils/Cubes | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Talcum Powder | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nail Varnish | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Nail Varnish Remover | 5 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
Perfume/Scent | 3 | 18 | 23 | 4 | 0 |
Deodorant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 13 | 84 | 66 | 12 | 0 |
Source: HASS 1981