HC Deb 17 May 1960 vol 623 cc1071-2
7. Mrs. McLaughlin

asked the President of the Board of Trade what money is made available to the British Standards Institution for consumer work.

Mr. Maudling

For 1960–61, the British Standards Institution will receive a special grant of £10,000 as a contribution towards the cost of its work for the domestic consumer. In so far as the remaining cost of that work is not covered by subscriptions from Associates of the Consumers' Advisory Council, it will be met from the general resources of the Institution, to which the Government will contribute this year a grant of £160,000.

Mrs. McLaughlin

Does not the Minister think that this is an occasion for expanding and giving a much larger grant to the British Standards Institution for this particular work, because at this time there is a great expansion in the work on consumer standards, and a great deal of knowledge and publicity ought to be put across, and money will be needed for it? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider any further grant that may be needed?

Mr. Maudling

The Government's contribution, in fact, is larger than ever before. I think that, important as the objectives are, one must set some limit to what the Government can do, and hope that contributions will also be forthcoming, as they are, from other sources.