To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions have been brought against furniture retailers-manufacturers for contravention of the new fire safety regulations.
Enforcement of the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 and the 1989 amendment is a matter for the local authorities trading standards departments in Great Britain and for district councils in Northern Ireland. The limited information available centrally shows that there have been nine prosecutions under these regulations, to June 1990 in the United Kingdom, resulting in fines totalling £4,870.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry since the new safety regulations were introduced for furniture manufacturing and importing, how many consignments of furniture landing at United Kingdom ports have been found to fail the appropriate standard of safety levels; and how many consignments have been tested.
The information requested about inquiries undertaken in connection with the furniture regulations, is not collected centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.