Costume safety change promised after Claudia Winkleman's daughter badly burned
RULES on the flammability of children’s fancy dress costumes are to be tightened up after a TV presenter’s daughter was badly burned, the Chancellor has said.
Last year, Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman’s daughter was taken to hospital with burns
George Osborne, standing in for David Cameron at Prime Minister’s Questions, told the Commons that Business Secretary Sajid Javid was reviewing rules on how fire retardant children’s outfits had to be.
Last year, Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman’s daughter was taken to hospital with burns after her Halloween costume caught fire.
Fancy dress costumes are regulated as toys by EU rules and not as clothing, which faces a higher standard.
Mr Osborne told MPs: “We will make sure it changes.”
Claudia Winkleman’s daughter was taken to hospital with burns after her costume caught fire
Fancy dress costumes are regulated as toys by EU rules and not as clothing
Under current toy regulations, small children can be engulfed in flames by three centimetres in one second
Conservative Anne Main (St Albans) asked: “Under current toy regulations, small children can be engulfed in flames by three centimetres in one second.
“Will you speak to the Prime Minister and ask if he will intervene with the Business Secretary and see if we can bring in a statutory instrument to improve the flammability of children’s play and dress-up costumes?”
Mr Osborne replied: “You are quite right to raise this case. We all saw the tragedy that befell the family of the Strictly Come Dancing presenter and the campaign her family have undertaken to change the regulations in this space.
Fire service demonstrates how flammable kids' Halloween costumes can be
Rules on the flammability of children’s fancy dress costumes are to be tightened up
“It is true we don’t have the same flame retardant regulations for fancy dress costumes for children.
“That seems wrong, I know the Business Secretary is looking at it and we will make sure it changes.”