§ Mr. NichollsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what level of grant-in-aid the Government will pay to the British Standards Institution this year; and if he will make a statement about BSI's role in relation to industrial competitiveness.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe British Standards Institution (BSI) is an independent body incorporated under royal charter. BSI has made an important contribution towards industrial competitiveness over the past 90 years in providing a framework for the setting of standards for industry. I am pleased to announce that the Government will make a grant-in-aid of £4.5 million for 1993–94 and that my Department will contribute a further £2.7 million in support to industry for standards making purposes.
In view of the changing nature of BSI standards, as a result of the increasing emphasis over recent years on the writing of standards at European and international level, and of the growth in BSI's quality assurance and testing activities, I have decided to review the need for Government financial assistance and the appropriate mechanisms for any future financial assistance, bearing in mind the need to ensure best value for money from public expenditure. This review is due to be completed by the end of September.
My officials are consulting all interested parties about future funding arrangements and about ways in which BSI and standards can contribute further to improving the competitiveness of British industry. They are seeking views on such questions as the value of national and international standards in support of competitiveness; the effectiveness of BSI as a standards-making organisation in a world market; the need for new types of product standard, or for new product testing, certification and marking schemes in the United Kingdom; and possible alternative approaches to standards writing at national level and to United Kingdom representation at international level. I have placed in the Library of the House a copy of the consultation note which has been issued.