Quality meetings at Comart and lunch at Tempsford before away by car to The House of Lords for a PITCOM reception and many industry political figures engaged before listening to the Lord Chancellor’s contribution to the Matrimonial Proceedings Bill
Early up and to the office to dictate all manner of correspondence before the arrival of Mike East of MEPR. Then to discuss the publicity arrangements for the Comdex exhibition which should be a good job though done at a late hour. Then to a Quality Steering Committee meeting with Carlton, Ian and later joined by consultant from the QAAS division of PERA. With them to describe Comart’s plans for quality and obtain approval for 15 days free consultancy aimed at establishing the company’s structure and communication systems for Quality Assurance. Encouragement to apply within 1 year for BS5750 P&1 which may not be such a difficult task as previously assumed. Lunch with our visitors at The Anchor in Tempsford.
An afternoon continuing with a meeting with John and David to try in too short a time to further encourage closeness of cooperation and communication. Arising from last week’s sales meeting were some mounting concerns about product competitiveness and product marketing and support policy. Quickly away by car to London and by tube to The House of Lords for a PITCOM reception. An informal occasion and good opportunity to meet above a half dozen of the multitude who I knew. An exchange of news with the MD of Tandy UK over computer stores, with Dr Tim Keen about the CRA, with Doug Eyions and Alison Newall of the CSA about Alvey and Export initiatives in a joint approach. Miss talking to Ferranti’s Bill Robinson of UKITO due to limit of time but heard from Philip Virgo of NCC that the Comart Communicator was a first choice from the Federation of Microsystems Centres but they say that Comart did not respond to a tender request – which subject I am resolved to investigate as I believe it to be untrue.
At 8.00pm at the reception’s end to be taken with much company to the private South East Gallery of the House to hear their Lordships debating the Matrimonial Proceedings Bill. Many good (and less good) speakers arrange in predetermined order with brief contributions rendered in high civility. All except the final response to the debate from Lord Hailsham the Lord Chancellor, whose Bill it was, castigating the Church of England for late and critical input to it. The second reading was passed quickly without division and I know not whether the House could divide on such a cross-bench subject