§ Sir Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply of 29 January to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds, Official Report, column 534, what has been the percentage change in real terms in the salary bill of the national weights and measures laboratory over the period 1979 to 1985.
§ Mr. HowardThe salary bill of the national weights and measures laboratory expressed in real terms that is, based on movements in the retail price index) has increased by 12.5 per cent. over the period 1979–85.
§ Sir Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what savings he expects to achieve in the labour costs and overheads of the move of the national weights and measures laboratory from Chapter street to Teddington; and to what extent these will be reflected in lower charges to weighing machine manufacturers for pattern examination.
§ Mr. HowardBoth labour costs and overheads are expected to reduce following the move of the national weights and measures laboratory to Teddington, but the extent of these savings is not yet known. Fees for pattern examination will be set to recover fully the costs incurred in carrying out the work.