Stephen McPartland MP will be the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group.

The Group’s membership comes from across the political spectrum with Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat members and will provide a parliamentary forum to discuss the issues affecting the sector, including the economic recovery, small business lending, and fire safety regulations.

Martin Jourdan, Chair of the British Furniture Confederation, the trade association representing the UK furniture manufacturing industry, said:  “I am pleased that the All-Party Group has been reformed with a talented and diverse range of parliamentarians. I am delighted by the election of the Group’s new Chair, Stephen McPartland MP, whose knowledge and enthusiasm will be of great benefit to the Group. Stephen is one of the new generation of MPs, and will be a fantastic credit to the industry. I know Stephen’s constituency contains a number of furniture companies, such as FIRA International Ltd."

The Group has examined key industry issues since it was first formed in 2005 including the importance of retaining our fire safety regulations. These rules ensure that UK furniture remains some of the safest in the world, and have saved an estimated 1,860 lives since their introduction.