ANNEX
Letter from Chairman, West Yorkshire Joint Services
to David Hinchliffe MP
On 9 February 1996 the National Weights and Measures Laboratory
published the first consultation document proposing major reforms
to the Weights and Measures Act 1985. These reforms relate to
the essential protection for consumers on weighing and measuring
equipment before such equipment is brought into use both when
new and after subsequent repair. The proposals refer to the testing,
passing as fit for use for trade and stamping (verification process)
of weighing and measuring equipment and were made by virtue of
the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994.
The House of Commons Deregulation Committee published its report
on the proposals on 29 October 1996. Essentially, there were two
main areas of concern, one related to the loss of consumer safeguards
and the other related to the lack of application to manufacturers,
installers and repairers from EC Member States. The proposals
were therefore referred back for further consideration and consultation.
Under Section 11 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 local weights
and measures authorities currently undertake the verification
process of weighing and measuring equipment. The proposals were
to allow manufacturers, repairers and installers to self-verify
their own equipment.
The West Yorkshire Joint Services facilitates verification for
and on behalf of the five District Councils in this area, namely,
Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.
On 12 February 1998 revised proposals on changes to the Weights
and Measures Act 1985 were circulated for consultation by the
National Weights and Measures Laboratory. Having considered these
new proposals I am concerned about their impact should they become
law. My concerns can be summarised as follows:
(i) loss of jobs - forty-four (44) staff are currently
employed on verification duties. Twenty-four (24) of these were
recruited from high unemployment areas following closures of companies
which includes British Coal.
(ii) impact on local community - any loss of jobs will
impact on the local community both economically and socially.
At a time of trying to energise and stimulate industry and the
community the proposals will provide a negative effect.
(iii) impact on local services - any loss of jobs will
place further burdens on other local authority services.
(iv) impact on central services - any loss of jobs
shall require central funding and interaction with local services
to minimise the anxieties of employees in the transitional period.
(v) any benefits that could accrue from the proposals are
not transparent - the benefits are seen to arise for manufacturers,
installers, repairers and industry to increase profit potential.
Little or none of which will be to the benefit of the consumer
or trading infrastructure.
(vi) loss of consumer safeguards - the proposals include
tenuous additional safeguards to protect the consumer. The protracted
consultation process is indicative of flawed proposals which can
fully be resolved by compromise between central government departments,
trade and bodies representing the consumers interest.
(vii) European Issue 1 - there is reservation as to
the effective controls on European manufacturers who are approved
to self-verify. UK manufacturers can be subjected to inspection
procedures by the local authority. I recognise that the Secretary
of State has powers of audit and inspection, but, consider this
role to be reactive rather than pro-active. Insufficient controls
of imported equipment from NWML approved manufacturers
together with non-approved manufacturers will ultimately lead
to inferior and non-conforming product reaching UK markets.
(viii) European Issue 2 - with the proposed introduction
of the Measuring Instruments Directive within two years the UK
proposals are unnecessary and may serve to duplicate the requirements
of the Directive. With this development it would be sensible to
delay the UK proposals and proceed with the Measuring Instruments
Directive.
2 June 1988
| 
