HC Deb 22 June 1965 vol 714 cc1456-7
22. Mr. Lubbock

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of Her Majesty's Government's commitment to the introduction of metric weights and measures, he will now introduce legislation providing for decimal currency at the earliest possible date.

Mr. MacDermot

My right hon. Friend has this matter under active consideration but he is not yet ready to make a statement.

Mr. Lubbock

Has not the right hon. and learned Gentleman had the matter under consideration for quite some time? Does he recall that on 9th March the Chancellor said in reply to a similar Question that the Government should make up their mind? What is the reason for this inordinate delay if the Government really meant what they said about modernisation at the time of the election?

Mr. MacDermot

I do not agree that the delay is inordinate. This is one of many matters that we have to consider, and it is a complicated matter. It is being considered.

Sir G. Nicholson

Is it not a fact that up to the present the country as a whole has not shown itself prepared to accept the new system and that it is only the eggheads who favour it?

Mr. MacDermot

One of the difficulties is that even the eggheads are not agreed on how it should be done.

Mr. Maxwell

Would my hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that industry is very much in favour of it, that it would help our exports, and that it is a matter of urgency that the Government should make up their mind and tell the country what their decision is?

Mr. MacDermot

I remember my hon. Friend's interest in the subject the last time it was raised.