HC Deb 14 May 1990 vol 172 c277W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms. Quin),Official Report, 30 April, column 386, what steps he is taking to increase the number of laboratories accredited by the NAMAS scheme, in the north-east, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

[holding answer 10 May 1990]: The national measurement accreditation service, NAMAS, actively encourages laboratories to become accredited for calibration and testing measurements. In conjunction with the Department's regional offices, promotional seminars have already been held in the north-east, Wales and Scotland. A seminar in Northern Ireland is currently being planned.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken or has suggested that the National Physical Laboratory takes to increase the number of laboratories accredited with the national measurement accreditation service for radiological calibration; and if he will name the accredited laboratory.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

[holding answer 10 May 1990]: Discussions are taking place between the national measurement accreditation service (NAMAS), involved in the radiological field of measurements both for calibration and testing with the view of increasing the number of accreditations in this area. The laboratory currently accredited for radiological calibration is Amersham International plc. Three further laboratories are currently being assessed prior to accreditation.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what staff committment is devoted through the National Physical Laboratory to ensuring as wide as possible membership to the national measurement accreditation service; and how this staff commitment is broken down between accreditations awards to calibration laboratories and testing facilities.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

[holding answer 10 May 1990]: The total number of staff currently employed in the national measurement accreditation service is 52. Of these, eight are directly involved in the accreditation of calibration laboratories and 25 in the accreditation of testing laboratories. In addition, three further staff are directly involved in accreditation of both calibration and testing laboratories.