§ Mr. Skeetasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for the use of metric units in agriculture.
§ Mr. PriorMy colleagues and I have considered the results of a survey carried out by the National Farmers Union. This showed substantial support within the industry for a co-ordinated change over to metric units centred round the period 1974–75. These views were endorsed by the other farming organisations and by the Metrication Board after consultation with the supplying industries and associated trades and marketing organisations.
In considering this advice, we have had to take account of a number of other factors, including the impact which metrication will have on the work of the agricultural departments, particularly through the Annual Farm Review and the Agricultural Census. Whilst endorsing the need for a co-ordinated programme, we have felt it right to suggest to the industry and to the Metrication Board that they should work for a more gradual change-over which would be centred round the farming year 1975–76 and which would lead to the Annual Review and the Census being conducted in metric terms for the first time in 1976. The board has undertaken to convey these views to the industries and trades concerned with a view to evolving a coordinated programme on this basis.