§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when it will be illegal to sell goods affected by the Metrication Act in imperial measures; and when it will be illegal to mention imperial equivalents on goods.
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§ Mr. John FraserI made it clear during the passage of the Weights and Measures, etc. Act 1976 that my Department will report to Parliament each year on the progress so far made in metrication. These reports will also include a forecast of further developments in the metrication programme and how they will be linked with consumer protection, information and education. These forecasts, which will inevitably be tentative, will set the stage for consultation with trade, industry and consumer organisations and will provide a background against which each step towards metrication can be seen in perspective. I hope to make the first report before Easter but I cannot anticipate its contents, since it is still a subject of preliminary consultations with interested organisations.