§ Mr. Chopeasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the arrangements in his Department for laboratory accreditation.
§ Mr. PattieThe British Calibration Service (BCS) and the National Testing Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (NATLAS), both operated by the National Physical Laboratory, are essential elements for laboratory accreditation in the national measurement system. The BCS is responsible for assessing and accrediting calibration laboratories and, on 1 November 1984, there were 129 accreditations in force from both the private and public sectors, with the majority from the former. NATLAS is concerned with the assessment and accreditation of testing laboratories in a wide range of physical, chemical and engineering disciplines and, at present, there are 244 accreditations in force most of which are in the private sector.
Both schemes are continuing to grow and I have decided, in the interest of improved efficiency, to merge 501W them into a single unified scheme by 1 October 1985. The unified scheme will be known as the National Measurement Accreditation Service (NAMAS) but the terms BCS and NATLAS which are now widely recognised both in this country and abroad will be retained as groupings within the scheme.