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1124418

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Disability
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Tribunals Service intends to proceed with the introduction of Continuous Online Resolution for personal independence payments and employment and support allowance appeals; and in what circumstances a case would be considered unsuitable for consideration by such a process.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15467
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The system to support Continuous Online Resolution (COR) is currently being tested with the Tribunal’s judiciary. As soon as testing has shown the system to be robust, a small number of people with a pending Personal Independence Payment appeal will be invited to take part in an initial pilot of COR. Current indications are this is likely to commence before the summer.</p><p> </p><p>The Tribunal’s judiciary intend, following successful testing, to be able to offer COR to all appellants. A case would be unsuitable if the parties did not wish to undergo that process or the panel thought it unsuitable.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 16/05/2019 15:00:40 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1124887

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they taking to comply with the Stockholm Agreement and other agreements on the control of hazardous chemicals for any UK upholstered furniture containing a number of persistent organic pollutants with no available information or register of their chemical composition, in particular, flame retardants.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15562
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK has some of the most rigorous chemical regulations in the world. The Government implements the Stockholm Convention through EU Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Chemicals in use also have to go through assessments under the REACH Regulation (No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). All furniture placed on the market in the UK must comply with these regulations.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to improving traceability of chemicals in products and waste and are working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on this.</p><p> </p><p>Specifically, the Government is reviewing the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 and has consulted on whether to introduce a specific requirement for furniture labels to stipulate any flame retardants used in their manufacture. The Government’s response to the consultation will be published in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 20/05/2019 16:03:49 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1125844

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the safety of the use of decabromodiphenyl ethane in UK furniture; and what advice, if any, they have received from (1) the European Chemicals Agency, (2) the Health and Safety Executive, and (3) the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment on the risks of using decabromodiphenyl ethane.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15634
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is currently reviewing the operation of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 and is taking account of evidence and advice from external sources such as academic papers as well as the views of experts from across government, including Chief Scientific Advisors.</p><p> </p><p>All furniture must also comply with the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and be safe before it can be placed on the market.</p><p> </p><p>DecaBDE is a persistent organic pollutant. The UK ceased production of this substance in 1996 and its use has declined sharply since then. Many other countries have also phased out its use. It was banned under the UN Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants in December 2018 and under the European chemical regulation regime, REACH, in March 2019. It will not be present in household soft furnishings and mattresses purchased after this ban comes into effect.</p><p> </p><p>Chemicals, including brominated flame retardants used in UK furniture, are regulated under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). REACH aims to provide a high level of protection for health and the environment from the use of chemicals including those used in products.</p><p> </p><p>In order to comply with REACH, companies must identify and manage the risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market in the EU. They have to demonstrate how the substances can be safely used, and they must communicate the risk management measures to the users. If the risks cannot be managed, authorities can ban or restrict the use of substances.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 20/05/2019 16:06:25 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1125845

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prosecutions were made by Trading Standards for offences under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 between 2014 and 2019; and how many of these prosecutions resulted in a conviction.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15635
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice has published data for prosecutions and convictions up to the end of December 2018. Data for 2019 will be published in May 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The number of prosecutions and convictions for offences under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 between 2014 and 2018 are shown in the table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="11"><p><strong>Table: Prosecutions and convictions under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988, 2014–18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>2018</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Prosecuted</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>9</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Convicted</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 23/05/2019 16:25:26 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1125846

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding of the study Flame retardants in UK furniture increase smoke toxicity more than they reduce fire growth rate, published in the journal Chemosphere in December 2017; and what steps they are taking to ensure that UK furniture is safe.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15636
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>As part of the Government’s review of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 1988, we are taking account of a wide range of scientific evidence from external sources including academic papers and studies.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to reviewing these regulations to ensure that the highest levels of fire safety are maintained while minimising risks to health and the environment.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 22/05/2019 11:56:26 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1125847

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the Office for Product Safety and Standards has spent on product compliance testing under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 since its formation; and what were the results of such testing.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15637
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Office for Product Safety and Standards has made available £500,000 in 2018 and £600,000 in 2019 for Local Authority Trading Standards to carry out product compliance testing at accredited laboratories. This testing includes compliance testing under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.</p><p> </p><p>Local Authority Trading Standards take appropriate enforcement action as required in light of the results from this testing.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 22/05/2019 11:57:10 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1125848

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the differences between the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15638
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 work in different ways but both aim to provide protection from fire risks.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s review of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 1988 aims to ensure they reflect changes in fire safety risks, and respond to developments in furniture design, innovation, manufacturing processes and environmental and health concerns while maintaining fire safety protections.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 21/05/2019 15:00:30 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1125849

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will respond to their 2016 consultation on updating the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15639
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>This is a complex issue and it is absolutely vital that the Government gets this right: we are committed to reviewing these regulations to ensure that the highest levels of fire safety are maintained while minimising risks to health and the environment.</p><p> </p><p>The Department will publish its response to the 2016 consultation in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 22/05/2019 13:24:56 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1128007

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Fire Resistant Materials
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 20 May (HL15634), whether DecaBDE is the same chemical as DecaPBDE; and whether production and use of DecaPBDE continues in the UK.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15892
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) is a group of chemicals consisting of brominated hydrocarbons, of which decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) is one. When the term DecaPBDE is used in literature it usually refers to DecaBDE.</p><p> </p><p>The UK ceased production of DecaBDE in 1996 and its use has declined sharply since then. It has been banned under the UN Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants since December 2018 and this will be reflected in the revision to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on Persistent Organic Pollutants and also under the European chemical regulation regime, REACH, since March 2019.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 04/06/2019 14:24:04 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

1128008

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 11 September 2018 (HL10265), whether the volumes of DecaBDE in existing upholstered furniture have been established; and what procedures are in place to safely dispose of such furniture.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL15893
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government does not hold information on the volumes of DecaBDE in existing upholstered furniture. The Government is working with stakeholders and experts to assess the best routes for disposal of waste containing DecaBDE to protect the environment and human health.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 05/06/2019 15:52:23 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar