§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received relating to the impact on exceptionally tall people of the most recent CEN recommendations concerning the standard height of office furniture. [59605]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 17 November 1998]: Two European office furniture standards, covering office tables, desks and work chair dimensions, are currently being developed by the European Standardisation Committee (CEN) TC 207, Sub-Committee 3, Office Furniture, on which the British office furniture industry is represented. The draft standards are based on measurements of the European population. In nearly all cases the draft standards are identical to those in existing British Standards; where they differ, they are to the advantage of taller people in the UK population.
I have not received any representations to date relating to the draft European standards.