§ 28. Mr. Speedasked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is satisfied with the progress towards metrication in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellishYes, Sir. According to the British Standards Institution's latest report, metrication in the construction industry is proceeding in fair accordance with the agreed programme. A considerable proportion of public sector work entering the design stage this year will be in metric measurement.
§ Mr. SpeedI thank the Minister for that reply. Earlier he said that his Department was doing a first-class job 1160 in this matter. Does he share my concern that a recent G.L.C. survey showed that 95 per cent. of building material manufacturers were not using metric conversions in their sales literature?
§ Mr. MellishThat is a weakness. This is one of the problems which my own Metrication Committee is looking into—the problems of metrication thrown up by the people at the top. We expect to initiate about 460 metric projects valued at £125 million this year. I can only answer for my Department. We are genuinely doing a good job.