Metric Weights (Hansard, 18 March 1994)

§ Mr. Purchase
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to publish the amendment to the Price Marking Order 1991 in respect of shops switching from imperial to metric weights for certain categories of foods.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
It is my intention that legislation amending the Price Marking Order 1991 should be laid in Parliament before the summer recess as part of a set of measures implementing the units of measurement directive.

§ Mr. Purchase
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he intends to ask the EC for a further derogation to avoid the final stage, on 1 January 2000, of switching to metric weight for goods sold loose.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
There are no plans at present to seek a further derogation.

§ Mr. Purchase
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide an early public information programme to help consumers understand the switch to metric weights on 1 January 1995.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
The Government are considering what, if any, public information programme should be provided to supplement any action taken by retailers.