Today is the official launch of my Westminster campaign for Harper-Lee's Law with the introduction of a Presentation Bill, the Button Batteries (Safety) Bill. Over the coming months, I plan to secure a Back Bench Debate and a Westminster Hall Debate and encourage MPs from across the House to support the campaign and sign up for action on this important issue.
I promised Harper-Lee's family I would do everything in my power to raise awareness. I intend to keep that promise.
I would also like to take this time to thank the team at Stoke Sentinel for starting the campaign locally for Harper-Lee’s Law and I am pleased to work with them as we make this a national issue.
The purpose of Harper-Lee’s Law:
1. To raise awareness of this tragic death and the issue of the danger of button batteries
2. To set a minimum safety standard for products containing button batteries to prevent them from falling out.
3. To require the safe packaging of button batteries and work with supermarkets to ensure the batteries are not displayed in aisles at child height.
4. To consider the options for coating batteries to reduce the toxicity.
I have also launched a dedicated campaign website which can be viewed at: http://buttonbatteriessafetybill.co.uk which gives you all the information regarding the campaign.
