asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, further to his statements of 26th February with regard to the setting up of a new standards division in the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, he will state the date on which this division was set up, the number of persons employed, the work which has hitherto been undertaken, and details of the work which it is proposed to undertake in the near future; and if he will state by what procedure it is decided for what particular products a standard should be set up at any time; and how the specifications of such a standard are conveyed to manufacturers and/or retailers of the goods in question.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Institute for Industrial Research and Standards.
24.
The Standards Division was established on 21st November, 1963, and at present it has a staff of seven. The Institute has, of course, been engaged on the preparation of standards since its inception in 1946.
The principal work of the Division in the current year will be to prepare specifications for some 30 items selected by me.
The list of items for which specifications are to be prepared is compiled annually in my Department in consultation with officers of the Institute, due regard being had to suggestions received during the year from the public. Suggestions will also be put forward by the Women's Advisory Committee on Consumer Standards recently set up by the Institute. Specifications, in draft form, are sent to all persons and organisations likely to be interested and the declaration of specifications as standard specifications is advertised in the morning newspapers.