§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Technology if he will finance the additional costs of the British Standards Institution which arise from the Institution's work in connection with the metrication programme.
§ Dr. BrayMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Oldbury and Halesowen (Mr. Horner), on 24th May, 1965, stated that the Government would take the new commitment for metrication into account when making grants-in-aid to the British Standards Institution. This has been done, and the total grants-in-aid have accordingly been increased considerably each year since 1965.
I appreciate that the metrication programme does involve a considerable effort by the British Standards Institution over and above their normal programme, and this extra effort will involve additional costs. However, I would refer to the statement which my right hon. Friend made on 26th July, 1968, namely, that the Government considered that
. . the costs of adopting metric weights and measures must lie where they fall."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 26th July, 1968; Vol. 769, c. 1168.]In the light of this policy, it is for the industries concerned to take the lead in meeting these additional costs, and I understand that the British Standards Institution has already approached certain industries with a request for increased contribution. The additional costs will be shared between industry and the Government, because in accordance with the normal arrangements, the Department will match, £ for £, any additional subscriptions that the industries concerned may make.—[Vol. 713, c. 32–3 Vol. 769, c. 1167–71.]