§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the future of the British Standards Institute. [28652]
§ Mr. BattleThe British Standards Institution (BSI), the national standards body, is a Royal Charter body which is independent of Government. Its future is primarily a matter for its members.
BSI's senior management, after consulting Government through my Department, have submitted proposed amendments to BSI's Royal Charter and Byelaws, which comprise its constitution, to an Extraordinary General Meeting of BSI's members on 27 February 1998. If BSI's members approve the amendments they will be submitted to the Privy Council Office.
The main aim of the amendments is to allow BSI to expand its commercial activities, with a view to seeing its long term viability, while at the same time safeguarding the future of its standards facilitation activities.