Asked by: Countess of Mar (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
Her Majesty's Government whether there is any one Government department charged with ensuring that all fire retardant materials are safe and effective at all times.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Public safety is a priority for Government. There are a range of measures in place across a number of Government departments to ensure the effectiveness and safety of flame retardant materials.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for product safety legislation, which requires products to be safe when they are placed on the market.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has responsibility for ensuring the safety of chemicals, including those used as flame retardants.
The Health and Safety Executive oversees the EU regulations concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (known as REACH). This has several aims, including providing a high level of protection of human health and the environment from the use of chemicals.
Lead responsibility for the safety and effectiveness of flame retardant chemicals will rest with the Department responsible for any legislation specifying their usage.
Asked by: Countess of Mar (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to ensure that flame retardant materials used in homes, offices and public spaces both (1) prevent fires, and (2) are non-toxic, (a) in normal use, (b) during fires, and (c) for disposal or recycling at the end of life of items, such as furniture, foam mattresses, electronic goods and building insulation which contain such materials.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Public safety is a priority for Government. There are a range of measures in place across a number of Government departments to ensure the effectiveness and safety of flame retardant materials.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for product safety legislation, which requires products to be safe when they are placed on the market.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has responsibility for ensuring the safety of chemicals, including those used as flame retardants.
The Health and Safety Executive oversees the EU regulations concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (known as REACH). This has several aims, including providing a high level of protection of human health and the environment from the use of chemicals.
Lead responsibility for the safety and effectiveness of flame retardant chemicals will rest with the Department responsible for any legislation specifying their usage.
Asked by: Countess of Mar (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are being taken to reduce the immigration restrictions on doctors from West Africa who currently work in the United Kingdom and who volunteer to return to West Africa temporarily to provide medical support for those suffering from ebola.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Immigration Rules already provide for doctors here under the Tier 2 skilled work route and working for the UK health system to return to their home countries for short periods to provide support. The Tier 2 rules allow for periods of unpaid leave of up to one month in every 12 month period. There is also nothing in the Immigration Rules to prevent someone on a Tier 2 visa using their annual leave to volunteer in Africa.