Written question asked by Fraser Kemp (Labour) on Monday, 10 April 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 April 2000. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Thursday, 13 April 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what steps he is taking to ensure greater protection for the public from carbon monoxide poisoning. - Includes ref to discussion document 'Gas safety review: options for change'.

Answer: Mr. Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure greater protection for the public from carbon monoxide poisoning. [118872] Mr. Meacher: The Government fully support the published commitment of the Health and Safety Commission to reducing gas-related carbon monoxide poisoning fatalities by at least 10 per cent. over a 10 year average. To further this aim, the Commission published a discussion document on 4 November 1999, entitled "Gas safety review: options for change" to invite views on a wide range of issues which impact on domestic gas safety. This reflects preliminary representations made to the Health and Safety Executive by key consumer and industry stakeholders, analysis of accident data, and work commissioned under the auspices of the Government's People's Panel initiative on the attitudes, knowledge and behaviour of Panel members in relation to gas safety. The discussion document and recent related public consultation exercises in Glasgow and Lambeth have yielded in excess of 650 replies, which are now being evaluated. The Government expect to receive a report of the conclusions of the Commission in the summer on what further regulatory or other action may be justified to enable the agreed target to be met or exceeded in the most equitable and cost-effective way.

Secondary information