To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that all caravans meet fire safety standards.

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations came into force, with respect to caravans, on 1 March 1990. Their enforcement is a matter for the trading standards departments of the local authorities, which have the necessary powers to inspect businesses selling caravans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the cost to the caravan industry of complying with fire safety legislation in March 1990 instead of 1991.

The Department's cost compliance assessment of improving the fire safety in caravans by the introduction of the 1988 regulations estimated the cost to the industry to be between £3 million and £4 million per annum.