§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection pursuant to the Written Answer on metrication of 26th March last, column 318, which transactions will not be "authorized" and which she expects to continue with full protection of consumer protection legislation.
§ Mr. John FraserThe Units of Measurement Directive and the draft amending directive are concerned only with the units of measurement used in transactions. If the draft directive is adopted the Government will have to ensure that the imperial units listed in the Written Answer of 26th March last will cease to be authorised for legal purposes by the relevant dates. The appropriate metric units will thereafter be the units of legal measurement required for transactions. This would mean that whichever way a consumer in practice might ask for a certain quantity, all contracts would be in metric units. The full protection of consumer protection legislation will be maintained whatever units are in use. As I told my hon. Friend on 17th May, I am considering what amendments or clarification should be sought to the draft directive.