11th December 2007 - Promoting carbon monoxide safety in Europe's hotels

Speaking in a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg last night, Yorkshire Euro-MP Linda McAvan secured a commitment from the European Commission to request all hotels around the EU provide carbon monoxide alarms in their rooms.

During the debate on fire and carbon monoxide safety in hotels, MEPs pressed Commissioner Kuneva to raise the standard of safety in hotels across the EU, arguing that travellers should have no worries about the safety of their accommodation.

Responding to Ms McAvan, the Commissioner agreed to raise with hoteliers the importance of carbon monoxide alarms during a meeting with industry representatives in February, prior to any possible future legislation forcing hotels to act.

Concerns about carbon monoxide poisoning in hotels came to public attention last year following the tragic deaths in Corfu of two children from the Wakefield area.

Linda McAvan says;

"Awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning in people's homes is much greater now than it once was, although we must not be complacent about that. But when people go on holiday, they are entitled to know that they can relax in safety. Putting carbon monoxide alarms in hotel rooms is one easy and relatively low cost way of putting people's minds at ease."