§ 5. Sir F. Medlicottasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Hodgson Committee on Weights and Measures.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Peter Thorneycroft)Work on this subject is proceeding as quickly as possible but it will not be possible to introduce legislation during the present Session.
§ Mr. BottomleyIn view of the fact that the Committee presented its Report in 1951—a most excellent Report—does the right hon. Gentleman not think it unwarranted that there should have been all this delay? Further, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that implementation of the Report will help the export trade, with which we are all concerned?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI agree upon the importance of the subject, which has indeed necessitated discussions with a number of authorities; but there will not be legislation this Session.
§ Miss BurtonApart altogether from the export trade, would not the implementation of some of these recommendations be of great help to housewives in the goods they obtain? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman do something about it in the next twelve months?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI said "this Session."