No help to buy safer glass

The new safer glassware promoted by the Government will cost about the same

as standard toughened glasses.

But the Government has "no plans" to give money to the industry to help buy stocks of the vessels, Home Office minister Alan Campbell has told Parliament.

The two prototypes, revealed last month, are billed as stronger than regular pint glasses and less likely to break into shards ('Safer' pint glasses unveiled ).

The plan is to roll them out in about a year and JD Wetherspoon is involved in a trial.

Don Touhig, MP for Islwyn in Gwent, asked if the Government will "provide financial support to independent pub landlords to acquire stocks of such glasses".

Campbell said: "We anticipate the cost of the new glasses will be similar to existing standard toughened glass. Cost will clearly be a consideration as we move forward with these prototypes.

"Both glass solutions should have a potentially longer life span than existing glass — therefore we do not have any plans to support trade financially in acquiring stocks of the glasses as it would be part of their natural expenditure."