HC Deb 06 July 1970 vol 803 cc306-7
17. Sir D. Walker-Smith

asked the Minister of Technology what reply has been given to the letter addressed to the Minister of State on 26th June by the headmaster of a primary school in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, asking for a review of the work of the Metrication Board in regard to the changeover from imperial to metric units from the point of view on teaching in the schools.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology (Mr. David Price)

A detailed reply which should help to remove some of the headmaster's difficulties is being prepared. We are looking into the question of the work of the Metrication Board in relation to the teaching of the metric system.

Sir D. Walker-Smith

While looking at it, will my hon. Friend bear in mind that this headmaster's anxieties will be widely shared? Will he see to it that the Board does not impose a curriculum on schools which is all-metric, to the exclusion of the Imperial system, which still has a widespread use in the outside world?

Mr. Price

I accept my right hon. and learned Friend's latter point, but he is wrong in assuming that the Metrication Board can force any curriculum on any school. My own experience in my constituency is that most primary school headmasters welcome the teaching of the metric system.