§ 18. Mr. Fortescueasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what evidence his Department has submitted to the Metrication Board; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellishNo evidence has yet been presented formally to the Board by my Department, but a great deal of information is available about metrication in the Government building programme and in the construction industry at large. This will be submitted to the Board very shortly.
§ Mr. FortescueDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that it is over seven months since the establishment of the Board was announced? As we now have only a chairman and vice-chairman and one full-time member, and as construction contracts are to be designated in metric terms on 1st January, is it not time that the Ministry got a move on?
§ Mr. MellishThe hon. Gentleman is talking to the wrong Minister. This is a matter for the Minister of Technology. As far as I am concerned, my own Ministry has done, and is doing, a first-class job. We have set up our own metrication committee to investigate the whole problem and my Ministry has gone metric. We are doing a very good job.
§ Mr. J. H. OsbornCan the Minister state whether progress is satisfactory and whether there is adequate co-ordination? Is the industry lacking guidance, and does he not have responsibility here?
§ Mr. MellishI must admit that I will be very glad when the Board is appointed. I am most anxious to ensure that the construction industry has a first-class representative on the Board. Immediately it has had its first meeting we will be in a position to advise it on all that we have done and are doing in the construction industry—and it is a very good record.