XN000022-1981-12-09 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1981

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HE REMINDED MEMBERS THAT NO SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND NO LEGISLATION COULD BE REGARDED AS PROVIDING THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM FOR ALL TIME.

*THE SITUATION AND THE CONTROLS IMPOSED ON IT WILL BE KEPT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW, AND AS THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES, FURTHER CHANGES WILL BE INTRODUCED AIMED AT ACHIEVING THE LONG TERM OBJECTIVE OF AN EVENTUAL RETURN TO A FREE MARKET IN RENTED A DOMESTIC ACCOMMODATION. +

STRICTER CONTROLS OF GAS INDUSTRY LIKELY

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THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WARNED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO IMPOSE STRICTER CONTROLS OVER THE GAS

INDUSTRY BUT LEFT OPEN THE POSSIBILITY FOR SELF-REGULATION BY THE INDUSTRY.

REPLYING TO A QUERY FROM THE HON LYDIA DUNN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON GOVERNMENT REACTION TO THE GAS SAFETY CONSULTANT'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE SAFETY OF GAS WATER HEATERS, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID THAT IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD, AS A MATTER OF POLICY, INTERVENE MORE POSITIVELY THAN BEFORE IN THE CONTROL OF THE INDUSTRY. TO THIS END A NEW GAS STANDARDS ORGANISATION WILL BE ESTABLISHED UNDER A GAS ADVISER WITH THE NUCLEUS OF A SMALL STAFF.+

BUT HE ADDED THAT ALTHOUGH RECRUITMENT OF STAFF UNDER THE GAS ADVISER WAS UNDERWAY, +DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN HELD WITH THE INDUSTRY TO IDENTITY AREAS IN WHICH VOLUNTARY IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE INTRODUCED IN ADVANCE OF, OR PREFERABLY EVEN IN LIEU OF, GOVERNMENT CONTROLS.+

IN THE INTER IM, IT HAS BEEN PROPOSED TO PROVIDE A +BRIDGING CONSULTANCY+, MR DAVIES SAID,

HE ALSO REVEALED THAT THE FINAL REPORT OF THE CONSULTANTS WOULD BE COMPLETED NEXT WEEK AND PRESENTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL EARLY NEXT YEAR.

HE COULD NOT NOW SAY WHAT GOVERNMENT ACTIONS WOULD BE TAKEN ON THE REPORT BUT DISCLOSED THAT THE CONSULTANTS' PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS WERE FOR PERMANENT SOLUTIONS INVOLVING THE EVENTUAL REPLACEMENT, OR THE RESITING AND UPGRADING, OF MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A MILLION EXISTING HEATERS.

HE ALSO WARNED THAT EVEN IF OWNERS OF THESE HEATERS WERE WILLING TO PAY FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, IT WOULD TAKE TIME AND A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN MANPOWER IN THE GAS INDUSTRY TO COPE WITH SUCH A MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME.

NOTING THE CURRENT PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO DRAW PUBLIC ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE VENTILATION IN THE BATHROOM WHENEVER THE HEATER IS ON, MR DAVIES SAID THERE IS NO REASON WHY EXISTING HEATERS CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE USED WITHOUT ACCIDENT+ IF SUCH A SAFETY PRECAUTION IS FOLLOWED.