To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) how much he has allocated to assist facilities commissioned to monitor and test imported toys for health and safety issues; (167566)

The Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995 which govern the safety of toys sold in the UK are enforced by local authority trading standards departments (TSDs), who check toys placed on the market to ensure that they comply will all the essential safety requirements of the regulations including those regarding heavy metals. I have asked TSDs to step up their enforcement efforts in light of the recent toy recalls.

We have not allocated any additional funds to TSDs as enforcement of the regulations is part of their usual regime on the enforcement of consumer product legislation, funded through the normal local authority funding arrangements for which the Department of Communities and Local Government is responsible.