UK MPs attack Whirlpool's 'woeful' response to tumble dryer fire risk

Whitegoods maker Whirlpool has been lambasted by a UK parliamentary committee for its “woeful response” to a defect in its tumble dryers that led them to cause fires.

The all-party business committee said the episode had revealed wider issues over the UK's product safety regime.

The committee said it was “unacceptable” that there were still one million defective Whirlpool tumble dryers in homes more than two years after the identification of a defect that has led to at least 750 fires since 2004.

It called on Whirlpool to resolve the risk from faulty machines within two weeks of being contacted by costumers.

Committee chair Rachel Reeves said: "Whirlpool's woeful response to the defect in its tumble dryers has caused huge worry to people with these appliances in their homes.

"Their delayed and dismissive response to correcting these defects has been inadequate and we call on Whirlpool to resolve issues urgently."

“These problems go deeper than just one firm. Whirlpool’s response has highlighted flaws in the UK’s product safety regime which is fragmented and poorly resourced. There is a strong case for a single national product safety agency. The government must now implement the recommendations of an independent review on product safety, which they have been sitting on for nearly two years.”