Standing Joint Committee on Metrication (Hansard, 22 March 1968)

§ Mr. Lubbock
asked the Minister of Technology what advice has been given by the Standing Joint Committee on Metrication concerning the introduction of SI units into the school curriculum.

§ Dr. Bray
The Committee has had full discussions on the implications for schools (and also higher education generally) of industry's developing plans for adopting the metric system, which seem likely to lead to a substantial conversion in industry between 1970 and 1975. The Department of Education and Science and the Schools Council have been represented at these discussions in which general agreement has recently been reached that the emphasis in school education should shift from imperial units to SI metric units by 1971, to match the pace of industrial change. The more important imperial units will necessarily continue to be taught in primary and secondary education after 1971, until the timing of the adoption of the metric system by the country as a whole has been agreed.
The Schools Council is therefore now considering what advice should be given to primary and secondary schools on the teaching of the metric system and it is hoped to issue this shortly.

§ Mrs. Ewing
asked the Minister of Technology if he will list the names of the members of the Standing Joint Committee on Metrication.

§ Dr. Bray
The current composition of the Standing Joint Committee on Metrication is as follows:
Chairman:

Mr. A. H. A. Wynn, Adviser on Standards, Ministry of Technology.
Members:
Mr. H. A. R. Binney, Director, British Standards Institution.

Sir Anthony Bowlby, Chairman, Guest Keen & Nettlefolds Screws & Fasteners, Ltd., and Chairman, Guest Keen & Nettlefolds Bolts & Nuts Ltd.

Mr. E. W. Consterdine, Draughtsmen's & Allied Technicians' Association.

Mr. J. Conway, General Secretary, Amalgamated Engineering Union.
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Mr. G. P. Glass, Trade Relations Division, Shell International.

Mr. E. W. Greensmith, Engineering Adviser, Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd.

Mr. D. McDonald, Managing Director, Bruce Peebles Ltd.

Dr. D. H. Sharp, Technical Director, Confederation of British Industry.

Mr. K. M. Wood, Chairman, Concrete Ltd. Mr. W. W. Abson, Ministry of Technology.

Mr. B. R. T. Aitken, Department of Economic Affairs.

Brigadier R. A. Blackeway, Ministry of Defence.

Mr. M. S. Morris, Board of Trade.

Mr. A. B. Saunders, Ministry of Public Building and Works.

Mr. D. A. Shepherd, Ministry of Technology (Secretary).