HC Deb 19 March 1963 vol 674 cc179-80
3. Mr. Bullard

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to prescribe or recommend the use of the centigrade scale of temperatures to replace the Fahrenheit scale in documents presented to this House and in official publications.

Mr. Denzil Freeth

No, Sir. There is no present intention of changing the practice of using whichever scale is more suitable or convenient for the particular purpose.

Mr. Bullard

I recognise the tremendous advantage in the centigrade scale in the scientific sphere, but would it not be a good thing to have some central direction as to which scale is to be used in official documents? We have had the Fahrenheit scale used in one Bill and the cenitigrade'scale used in another, for purposes which are substantially similar. Would it not be a good thing for the Government to take the lead in this matter, rather than leave it to the Air Ministry or the Meteorological Office to do so?

Mr. Freeth

At the moment it seems to us best to use on each occasion whichever scale is likely to be more acceptable to the people concerned, but I will note my hon. Friend's views.

Mr. Bowles

Is the Minister aware that, since I raised this matter in connection with weather forecasts three weeks ago, I have had a tremendous number of letters, including three this morning by the 12 o'clock post, from Hampshire, Kent and Cornwall, agreeing with my suggestion? Is there any truth in the letter I have seen this morning, written by the Anti-centigrade Society, in which it says that it gathers that the present proposal is to drop Fahrenheit altogether in May?

Mr. Speaker

The latter part of the supplementary question could not he in order.

Mr. Bowles

May I put it the other way? Is there any truth in the report that the Government are proposing to drop Fahrenheit in May?

Mr. Freeth

Any questions relating to the Meteorological Office must be addressed to my right hon. Friend.