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Ochil & South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks vented his fury last night as his requests for a debate on the strangulation risk posed by looped blind cords was ignored by Conservative Leader of the House of Commons, Sir George Young MP.
Mr Banks made the request at Business of the House Questions yesterday (Thursday) and asked for a debate in Government time on the joint communiqué released by the US, Canadian governments and European Commission pointing out the threat that looped blind cords played, particularly on young children.
Banks has been campaigning for stronger regulation of the window blind industry since the death of Menstrie toddler Muireann McLaughlin who died when she became entangled in a window blind cord at her home in 2008.
Mr Banks said – “The Leader of the House showed an incredible lack of respect to the families that have been impacted by the tragedy of losing a child in this senseless manner.”
“US, Canadian and European officials all see the threat that looped blind cords pose and it is frankly unacceptable that the Leader of the House chose not even to acknowledge the threats but chose instead to make a petty party political point about taking people out of a tax bracket.”
“Sir George Young has been a member of the House of Commons for many years but I think he will look back on his comments with a certain amount of shame and embarrassment. This is a serious matter and the disregard he showed the issue and the families affected is deeply regrettable.”
“I will continue to fight on this issue to ensure that no other children are lost in this senseless way and I hope to receive a more constructive response from the Government in future.”
Notes
The full text of the exchange can be found here -
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2010-07-08a.525.0&s=speaker%3A12005#g535.7
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Banks fury as Tory Minister ignores blind cord threat
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