Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of Professor Richard Hull, published in Chemosphere, that the application of flame retardants "makes furniture burn more quickly, reaching higher temperatures and producing vastly more toxic smoke" when tested in real life environments; and whether they intend to promote the use of flame retardant-free materials.

Public protection remains the Government’s priority and it is committed to improving both fire safety and environmental outcomes.

We are aware of the findings of Professor Hull’s paper and they are being considered alongside the evidence from the public consultation and the advice of an Advisory Panel, comprising leading fire safety experts and departmental Chief Scientific Advisors. The Government response to the consultation on the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations will be published in due course.