§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the outcome of the consultation undertaken last year in connection with a proposed voluntary national scheme for the accreditation of test houses.
§ Sir Keith JosephThe proposals in the consultative paper issued by the Department of Industry attracted substantial support from widely representative bodies in industry, public corporations and Government Departments. They were seen as a positive step to improve the quality and reputation of United Kingdom manufactured goods and to reduce trade barriers. I have, therefore, decided that a national scheme should be started during 1981. It will be known as the national testing laboratory accreditation scheme—NATLAS—and it will be administered by the National Physical Laboratory. The Department will provide some financial support for the scheme during its development. It is aimed to become self-financing within three years of launch, but the net cost to Government in any of these years is unlikely to be more than £200K at September 1979 prices. I am depositing in the Library a note on the scheme which outlines the way it will operate.