Power to Prohibit Supply of Certain Appliances without Type Approval Mark or Approved Operating and Maintenance Instructions

Orders of the Day — Supply – in the House of Commons at 11:15 pm on 8 April 1981.

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Photo of Mr John Moore Mr John Moore , Croydon Central 11:15, 8 April 1981

I beg to move amendment No. 2, in page 2, line 2, leave out from `by' to end of line 8 and insert 'approved operating and maintenance instructions.'.

Photo of Mr Bernard Weatherill Mr Bernard Weatherill , Croydon North East

With this it will be convenient to take Government amendments Nos. 4, 5 and 6.

Photo of Mr John Moore Mr John Moore , Croydon Central

As drafted, the Bill provides powers for the Government to require approved operating and maintenance instructions to be supplied with new heat generators, but it does not contain corresponding powers in relation to gas appliances. This reflects the fact that the EEC directive on heat generators specifically mentions such instructions while the draft gas appliances directive does not. However, recent comments made in Committee by the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) and by the British Gas Corporation, as well as the continuing work in Brussels, have led us to the conclusion that proper operating and maintenance instructions are important for gas appliances as well as heat generators. We therefore promised in Committee that we would amend the Bill to allow the Government to require approved operating and maintenance instructions for new gas appliances.

The amendments will fulfil that promise. They will allow the Government to ensure that users of gas appliances have clear and easily understood guidance on how to use and maintain their appliances.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendments made: No. 4, in page 2, line 15, at end add 'or is accompanied by approved operating and maintenance instructions (or both).' No. 5, in page 3, line 22, at end add— `() "approved operating and maintenance instructions" means operating and maintenance instructions approved in accordance with the following provisions of this Part of this Act by any type approval body appointed under section 3 or with any relevant Community requirements by any person authorised in accordance with those requirements;'.—[Mr. John Moore.]