Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988.

Fire safety requirements for UK domestic upholstered furniture are acknowledged as being among the highest in the world. However, it is important that changes are made to take account of modern-day hazards and risks.

As a result, the Government announced it would develop a new approach to the fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture to maintain and improve fire safety and take account of modern-day hazards.

A consultation on proposals for a new approach closed on 24 October and the Government will issue a response in due course.