§ Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to make any changes to the previously announced arrangements for metricating the quantities in which whisky, gin, rum and vodka may be served for consumption on licensed premises; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthI announced on 14 December that I intended to lay in draft an order which would permit these spirits to be served in a single round metric quantity of 25 ml from the middle of this year and to end the use of the existing imperial measures by 31 December 1994. Having considered representations on these proposals, it remains my intention to lay an order shortly along the lines previously announced. However, in addition I propose to consult interested parties about the possibility at a later stage of permitting one further round metric quantity of 35 ml and of extending the requirement to use prescribed measures to cover other spirits.