§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to continue the requirement for petrol pumps to be checked by trading standards officers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansTrading standards officers have the power to test petrol pumps, as items of weighing or measuring equipment in use for trade. TSOs test petrol pumps before first use and from time to time during use; the frequency of this subsequent testing will depend on the local situation.
Plans have already been announced—in the booklet "Deregulation—Cutting Red Tape", January 1994—for a scheme to allow manufacturers to self-verify their own production if they so choose. This would not affect the in-use testing by TSOs.