§ Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations he has received from consumers and consumer associations favouring the use of metric measurements in the fabric and textile trade.
§ Mr. John FraserThe point of view of consumers is that they favour very strongly ending as soon as possible the confusion which exists at the moment where both metric and imperial measurements are in use and where it is impossible to make true value-for-money com-210W parisons. This attitude was clearly demonstrated at the Metrication Board's meeting of 31st May with representatives of the 17 consumer organisations listed below, specifically on the subject of carpets and fabrics. At that meeting there was general agreement that there should be an early legal cut-off date for the sale in imperial units of these goods and that the particular date accepted by the trade—30th July 1978—should be adopted. Formal consultations with all interested parties on this proposal are now being initiated.
Consumer Organisations
- Age Concern
- Consumers' Association
- Consumer Standards Advisory Committee
- Co-operative Women's Guild
- Good Housekeeping Institute
- Help the Aged
- National Association of Women's Clubs
- National Consumer Protection Council
- National Council of Social Services
- National Federation of Consumer Groups
- National Federation of Women's Institutes
- National Housewives Association
- Soroptimists International
- United Kingdom Federation of Business and Professional Women
- National Consumer Council
- Scottish Consumer Council
- Welsh Consumer Council