§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for Industry who are the members of the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications; how much it will cost to administer; who will pay for it; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButcherThe British Approvals Board for Telecommunications is soon to be incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Electrotechnical Approvals Board. In addition to the chairman, company secretary, financial director, and director of BABT, the following bodies have been invited to nominate members of the board of BABT:
- The Department of Industry
- The Department of Trade
- The British Standards Institution
- The Telecommunication Engineering and Manufacturing Association Ltd.
- The Business Equipment Trade Association
- The Electronic Engineering Association
- The Electricity Council
- The British Radio and Electronic Equipment Manufacturers Association
- The Electrical Wholesalers Federation
- British Telecommunications
All board members will be formally appointed by BEAB.
BABT will finance its own activities from fees and is to be a non profit-making body. The cost of administration will depend upon the volume of approval work undertaken and is therefore uncertain. At the outset, BABT's fees will include a charge for testing plus an additional fee of 12.5 per cent. to cover BABT's administrative overheads.
Initially, "start-up" loan facilities are to be made available, free of interest, for any amount required up to a maximum of £200,000. Borrowings from this facility may not be made after 31 December 1988. The Department of Trade has agreed to lend from public funds half of the sums required, the remainder to be made available jointly by British Telecom, the Telecommunication Engineering and Manufacturing Association Limited and the Business Equipment Trade Association.