§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of Technology what progress has been made by his Department in the extension and coordination of existing testing and quality assurance services and in the provision of new services to assist exports of manufactured products.
§ Mr. BennThe need for co-ordinating and extending services of this kind in industrial sectors where they are wanted has been recognised as a result of extensive joint discussions between my Department and the Confederation of British Industry. I have now agreed with the President of the Confederation to appoint a small Working Party whose task will be to study70W what organisation would best meet this need. The Working Party will invite evidence from a number of interested parties. Its membership and terms of reference, which have been agreed in consultation with the Confederation, are as follows:
Membership:
- Sir Eric Mensforth, C.B.E.
- Mr. G. B. R. Feilden, C.B.E., F.R.S.
- Professor B. T. Houlden.
Terms of Reference:
To consider and make proposals for the voluntary co-ordination and extension of national arrangements for the surveillance of quality control, inspection, testing and certification of engineering products and materials to declared standards of performance, safety and reliability; and to ensure that the proposals made will be directed at improving industrial efficiency and take particular account of the needs of the export market.