HC Deb 25 March 1998 vol 309 cc159-60W
Mr. Swinney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the(a) location of, (b) running costs of, (c) salary costs of and (d) number of staff based at the head office of the BBA, the percentage of staff employed (i) at head office, (ii) in London and (iii) in Scotland, and the percentage of (A) salary and (B) running costs incurred in (1) Scotland and (2) London. [36121]

Mr. Raynsford

The British Board of Agrément employs a total of 95 staff, comprising 84 staff (88% of the total) based at its headquarters in Garston, Watford,

Angela Eagle

I refer the hon. Member to the table. The total estimated final cost of the major projects as illustrated in the Table is £719.3 million.

and 11 salesmen and inspectors, who are mobile. No employees are based in either London or Scotland.

Projected salary and running costs for 1997–98 are as follows:

£000
Headquarters staff salaries 1,869
Mobile staff salaries 220
Running costs 2,231

Mr. Swinney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of the British Board of Agrément in Scotland. [36120]

Mr. Raynsford

The British Board of Agrément provides commercial services for the testing and certification of construction products for which there are no recognised product standards. The service is available to manufacturers throughout the UK. The BBA is also appointed by Government as the UK spokesbody in the European Organisation for Technical Approvals and is designated to issue European Technical Approvals to companies, including those in Scotland, which successfully apply for them.