§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about plans for introducing the metric system in the agricultural and horticultural industry.
§ Mr. Cledwyn Hughes:My right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, and I have welcomed the steps taken by the National Farmers' Unions to set up a Metrication Group as the main planning body for metrication in agriculture and horticulture and to establish a timetable for the change. We are participating in the work of this group which is in close touch with work being done in related industries. The efforts of the group will continue to have our full encouragement and support.
In their report published today, the Metrication Board have suggested that a target of 1972–73 should be used for planning purposes in agriculture and horticulture while recognising that some of 280W the necessary changes may extend beyond this two year span into 1974. We agree with this suggestion and we understand that it has been endorsed by the Unions' Metrication Group.
We for our part are planning on the basis that, subject to consultation with all the interests concerned, the information published in the 1973 Annual Review White Paper and the guaranteed prices determined for the year 1973–74 should be expressed in metric terms.