§ 14. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the President of the Board of Trade what official publicity will be given to the new British Standard Specification for school blazer cloth to ensure that parents of schoolchildren are aware of it.
§ Mr. DarlingThe responsibility for giving publicity to British Standards rests of course with the British Standards Institution, which is an independent body. I understand, however, that the Institution's Press release about the standard received very good coverage in the national, provincial and trade Press.
§ Mrs. ButlerI thank my hon. Friend for that reply, and I welcome the new 593 standard which is long overdue and will be a great help to the hard-pressed parents of schoolchildren. Is my hon. Friend aware that the standard is less than the R.T.S.A. which some manufacturers have adopted? Does he see any possibility of the standard being raised in the near future and, if not, would he look into the possibility?
§ Mr. DarlingThis is a question which possibly could be discussed by the British Standards Institution and the Retailing Trading Standards Association, but at least we have a standard in a sphere where I agree that it has been greatly needed. I hope that British manufacturers will adopt the standard and that school authorities will encourage the use of any cloth which complies with it.
§ Mr. Peter EmeryWill the hon. Gentleman agree that the British Standards Institution does a considerable amount of very good work? Would he consider consulting its Council about the appointment of more consumer element to the Committee considering standards? Does he think that too frequently standards are arranged by manufacturers agreeing on the standard and that further consideration should be taken on the consumer side?
§ Mr. DarlingI understand that discussions on this matter are going on with the British Standards Institution and the Consumer Council. The Council is being increasingly represented in this kind of work.