Mr. Dixonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is his policy that metrication should be applied to the farming industry in March 1976.
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§ Mr. PeartThe farming organizations, with the agreement of the supplying and marketing industries, asked my predecessors to support their intention to adopt metric units and, after further consultations, it was decided that the change should take place during the fanning year 1975–76. The adoption of this target date would lead to the annual review and the census being fully conducted in metric terms for the first time in 1976. As my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Prices and Consumer Protection, has confirmed in the House on 25th March and 20th May there is to be no change in target dates decided upon by individual sectors.