To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action Her Majesty's Government have taken to implement within the United Kingdom the fire safety provisions of the EC directives commonly known as the workplace and framework directives, by 31 December 1992.
Proposals to implement these provisions by regulations made under section 12 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 were issued for consultation in May 1992. Many welcomed our proposals, but some valid criticisms emerged. We therefore decided that the draft regulations and associated guidance should not take effect on 1 January 1993, as originally planned.
We hope to issue revised proposals for Fire Precautions (Places of Work) Regulations and related guidance for consultation in the summer. This will enable us to consider any comments which we receive and make the regulations to take effect on or after 1 April 1994.