§ Mr. Hordernasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what measures she will take to ensure that applications to her Department's Weights and Measures Service for pattern approval for new inventions and processes receive prompt attention; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Alan WilliamsSteps have already been taken to reduce current delays in dealing with applications for pattern approval. As indicated in paragraph 34 of the Report to Parliament on Weights and Measures, published in September 1975, a substantial backlog of applications has built up.
The steps taken include the reorganisation of the Weights and Measures Service and a considerably increased allocation of staff resources to examination 269W work. Every effort is being made to speed up the work and to reduce the backlog so as to ensure that, as soon as possible, all new applications are dealt with in a reasonable time.