§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial assistance his Department makes available to small businesses to convert equipment from imperial to metric measurement; and if he will make a statement. [108625]
§ Dr. HowellsNone.
Metrication has been under way in stages since 1965, with long lead-in times at each stage. In accordance with normal practice the Government do not generally provide financial assistance to business to meet the cost of legislative changes. These are taken into account by way of the Regulatory Impact Assessments when policy and lead-in times are formulated.