HC Deb 16 June 1994 vol 244 c629W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he will take on the conclusions of reports which he commissioned on plug and socket harmonisation on the level of disruption and costs to industry, customers and the time taken for benefits to accrue.

Mr. McLoughlin

The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation—CENELEC—the body responsible for electrical standards in Europe, has referred the proposed standard back to the relevant technical committee for further work. The study recently undertaken by the Building Services Research and Information Association for my Department will provide a useful factual background for comments from consumers and industry if and when a draft standard is issued for national consultation.