§ Mr. KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what evidence he has with reference to the issuing of quality assurance certification within the surveying profession of the effect of certification charges on incentives to secure quality assurance certification;
(2) what analysis he has made of the impact of the level of certification charges across Scotland on the willingness of smaller size surveying businesses to seek certification; and if he will make a statement,
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe number of professional firms on the Department of Trade and Industry quality assurance register is currently very small and no specific monitoring has so far been carried out. However, based on experience with the many manufacturers now registered, steps to help small firms are being taken. More certifying bodies are being approved, and this will increase competition and reduce costs to those seeking quality assurance certification.