§ 1. Mr. Darlingasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends to introduce a Weights and Measures Bill, following the Report of the Committee on Consumer Protection.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. N. Macpherson)We intend to introduce weights and measures legislation as soon as the Parliamentary timetable permits.
§ Mr. DarlingThis means that we have to go on waiting, does it? Surely the Parliamentary Secretary realises that we cannot run a modern trading system on rules and regulations which are fifty years out of date? Has the Molony Committee made suggestions for improving the Bill which is standing on the stocks and which looks like standing on the stocks for some considerable time?
§ Mr. MacphersonThe fist part of the hon. Gentlemen's supplementary question gives the reason why we intend to introduce legislation as soon as the Parliamentary timetable permits. With regard to the second part, as I indicated some time ago, the Committee on Consumer Protection has not investigated weights and measures.