asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent consultations he has had with the Fire Brigades Union about fire safety of upholstered furniture.

The Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council, on which the Fire Brigade Union is represented, discussed the fire safety of upholstered furniture most recently at its meeting on 25 November 1986, chaired by my noble Friend the Earl of Caithness. My noble Friend also corresponded with the Fire Brigades Union earlier this year about representation on a working party on the flammability of upholstered furniture set up by my hon. and learned Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.