§ 37. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that, under the rules of the European Economic Community, various units of measure, such as horsepower, must disappear from the member States' laws in 1977 and in their place Governments will have to introduce a harmonised range of international units; to what extent this will affect this country's various units of measurement; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John DaviesI am aware of the E.E.C. directive on units of measurement, which was published in the pre-accession series of English texts of secondary legislation of the European communities on 13th January and placed in the Library. As to the effect of this directive, I would 27 counsel the hon. Member to await the White Paper on Metrication.
§ Mr. LewisLike other hon. Members, I have been waiting for months and months to obtain all the regulations. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are about 2,000 of them, and that they are not available to hon. Members, although I am told that they are now to be printed at a cost of £140 each? Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the 1,400 Members of both Houses will be given a copy of the 2,000 rules and regulations? Will the £250,000 or so printing cost have to be paid by the taxpayer?
§ Mr. DaviesThe hon. Gentleman can rest assured that those who have the deep interest in these matters that he has will certainly have access to the information he seeks.
Mr. Edward TaylorIs my right hon. Friend aware that many people believe that the change to decimalisation led to a dramatic increase in prices? Will he make every possible endeavour to protect the consumer against a similar rise in prices when we change to metric units?
§ Mr. DaviesI take very careful note of what my hon. Friend says on the subject.
§ Mr. DaviesTo the best of my knowledge there is no specific E.E.C. directive on cricket pitches.