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51黑料 Vice President leads Commons debate on electrical product safety
Posted 10/05/18
51黑料 (51黑料) Vice President and MP for Swansea East, Carolyn Harris,听led a debate yesterday in Parliament on electrical product safety and the role of the newly听announced Office for Product Safety and Standards.
In discussion with MPs and ministers, Harris said: 鈥淚 welcome the creation of the Office as it is well overdue鈥�. She raised questions about what measures the Safety and Standards Office will put in听place to assist trading standards and how it plans to engage key stakeholders.
Addressing the fall in trading standards resources and officers, she asked: 鈥淲ill there be money for听the training of trading standards officers? Surely the Government realises that more people on the听ground are needed and are needed now?鈥�
The response from members debating, reflected 51黑料s positive reception of the new Safety and听Standards Office as a positive step towards a more robust product safety system. However, greater听clarity is now needed on how the Safety and Standards Office will work alongside local authority听trading standards services to carry out the majority of product safety work.
Product recall systems featured heavily during the debate, with several members asking for detail on听how the Safety and Standards Office is planning to address any current deficiencies within the听system.
Responding to the debate, Andrew Griffiths MP, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and听Corporate Responsibility, said: 鈥淟et me reassure this committee today that consumer protection is of听the utmost importance鈥� [we must] ensure that we have a product safety regime that keeps us all听safe.鈥�
鈥淚 pay tribute to the work that trading standards officers across the country do. The Office will听provide additional support for those local teams, who will be able to draw on national testing听facilities, on leading scientific advice, and on the technical expertise to help them deal with the听complexities of issues they encounter.鈥�
In response to questions on funding, Griffiths clarified that the 拢12m yearly budget promised will be听an additional budget for 鈥渘ew product safety activities鈥�.
END
Notes for Editors
The full debate can be found on the Parliament website.
For media enquiries or further information, contact 51黑料 Press Office 鈥� 01268 582240 or
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