HC Deb 16 June 1863 vol 171 cc980-1
MR. DOULTON

said, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether any steps have been taken to test the accuracy of the Standards of Weights and Measures deposited in the Exchequer in the year 1825?

MR. PEEL

said, in reply, that the secondary standards of weights and measures were used as local standards. The secondary standards of weight and length had been in use since the year 1835, and that of capacity since 1834. There was no reason to suppose that they were not accurate copies of the primary standards, but there was no power given to the Government to re-verify them. It might be advantageous that an occasional re-verification should be made, but a legislative measure would be necessary for that purpose.