§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings he has had with members of the National Market Traders Federation to discuss whether to seek an extension to the derogation permitting loose from bulk produce to be sold in imperial only measures. [90096]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 7 July 1999]: I have had no specific meetings with the National Market Traders Federation to discuss metrication but I met representatives of the Federation at a reception in the House of Commons on 10 May 1999. The Federation had previously submitted written representations to me concerning the derogation.
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the likelihood of the United States adopting metric measurements as the authorised units for pre-packaged food by 31 December 2009. [90101]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 7 July 1999]: As part of the US metrication programme, pre-packaged goods (foods and non-foods) marketed in the USA are already required to be marked with an indication of quantity in metric and US customary units. The European Commission is in discussion with the US Government about permitting indications of quantity to be given only in metric units by 2009.
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost to(a) market traders, (b) delicatessens and (c) other retailers arising from the expiry of the derogation permitting loose from bulk produce to be sold using imperial measures only. [90103]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 7 July 1999]: The DTI published a compliance cost assessment when the legislation to phase in the gram and the kilogram was made in 1994. The assessment identified the conversion or replacement of weighing machines as the main cost for traders. At today's prices, according to the United Kingdom Weighing Federation, the average cost of a conversion is about £100 and the cost of a new weighing machine starts at about £450. According to the Federation, 80 per cent. of machines should be capable of conversion. The cost of a set of metric weights is about £50.
If, as the Government expect, the European Commission's proposal to permit dual indications in metric and non-metric units until 31 December 2009 is adopted, weighing machines that show metric and imperial units will not have to be converted or replaced if the imperial units are not larger than the metric ones.
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he made to the European Commission calling for it to extend the derogation permitting loose from bulk produce to be sold using imperial measures only; and what reasons underlie his policy on making such representations. [90095]
583W
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 7 July 1999]: The Government have not made any representations to the European Commission to extend the derogation in Directive 80/181/EEC on units of measurement, under which the ounce and the pound may be used until 31 December 1999 as the legal units in the UK for goods sold loose from bulk and weighed at the point of sale.
I intend reporting to Parliament in the near future concerning the adoption of metric units in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the European Union's Trade Commissioner, and whether such discussions have included the expiry of the derogation permitting loose from bulk produce to be sold using imperial measures only. [90100]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 7 July 1999]: The Government have not discussed the derogation for goods sold loose with Members of the European Commission.
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures his Department has taken to inform market traders of the consequences of the expiry of the derogation permitting loose from bulk produce to be sold using only imperial measures; and what was the cost of such measures. [90102]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 7 July 1999]: The DTI is putting together a programme of measures to inform and advise small traders and their customers about using the gram and kilogram for goods sold loose. The projected cost of the programme is £400,000.