§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effects on the UK of metric standardisation in terms of trade with(a) Europe and (b) the rest of the world; and if she will make a statement on the impact on British competitiveness of the transition to metric standardisation. [182741]
§ Mr. SutcliffeIt is Government's understanding that many business sectors undertook metric standardisation in the 1960s and 1970s. The Department has no recent information on the extent to which particular sectors may not have undertaken metric standardisation.
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to promote the completion of the UK's transition to metric standardisation. [182742]
§ Mr. SutcliffeThe Government do not see a need to promote metric standardisation. All business sectors are free to undertake metric standardisation where they see benefits in doing so.