§ 23. Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what date she expects that her Department will have adopted metrication for administrative purposes.
§ Mrs. ThatcherThe construction industry is adopting the metric system, and in consequence bodies responsible for educational building have been asked by my Department to see that projects expected to start on or after 1st April, 1972, are designed in metric measurements.
§ Mr. GoodhartDoes my right hon. Friend realise that metrication is one area in which many people hope that her Ministry will give a lead by way of syllabuses? Does she realise that educational publishers in particular are in grave difficulties trying to foresee Government policy?
§ Mrs. ThatcherA circular was issued some time ago, but before deciding further on what to do we are waiting for the White Paper on metrication.
§ Mr. FauldsDoes the right hon. Lady not realise that the Government are endangering the planning of school curricula and examinations by being somewhat less than clear in their policy 1835 simply, as we all know, to appease some of the backwoodsmen scattered behind her? Is she aware that the N.U.T. has complained about the effect of this uncertainty?
§ Mrs. ThatcherWe have been very clear about our education policy in the circular to which I referred.