What is the Welsh Government doing to address the fire safety risks in lithium-ion batteries, in light of freedom of information requests which show 119 incidents suspected to be caused by lithium-ion batteries have been reported in Wales since 2020?
Product safety is a reserved matter. However, the Welsh Fire and Rescue Services provide information and advice to the public on the fire risks of the use of lithium-ion batteries, including during their Home Safety visits. These are visits by firefighters to people’s homes to check for any fire safety (and some other wider health) concerns and provide appropriate advice to the occupants, including advice about safe use of chargers. Anyone can request a visit, and they are focused on the households of vulnerable people. The Welsh Government has committed £1,000,000 grant funding to assist Fire and Rescue Services across Wales with these visits this financial year.