§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what studies he has made of the views of consumers on proposed further restrictions on the use of imperial weights and measures at the point of sale.
§ Mr. ForthUnder the European Community's 1979 units of measurement directive, the Commission is obliged to make proposals to extend the use of metric units.
The Government are therefore considering United Kingdom policy on metrication. A consultation paper inviting comments on proposals to phase out by the end of 1994 the use of the remaining imperial units for most trade purposes was circulated in October to some 700 organisations representing trade, industry, local authorities and consumers.
The consultation period ended recently and the responses, including those from consumers, are now being studied.