8

9

10

Conclusions

paying particular attention to the availability of metric text books. Some increased expenditure on books and equipment will be inescapable. "Resources must be found; this expenditure is well worthwhile because of the economies of effort resulting from concentration on a coherent system of measurement which will meet all needs as they arise both in school and in the world outside."

The training and retraining of those who have left school will fall mainly on their employers. The size of this task should not be over-estimated. The training should be adequate and properly timed. The professional institutions, the technical colleges, the Industrial Training Boards, the Government Training Centres and the broadcasting organisations can support and supplement these efforts. The co-operation of the trades unions and their membership is indispensable to the success of the change because work people will be affected in a variety of ways.

The changeover in transport involves a great many services. The main need is to synchronise the change for the movement of freight. We have made arrangements with the representatives of the transport interests concerned to work out a co-ordinated approach and to agree upon a common date for the changeover. The changeover will also need some changes in Customs and Excise requirements for the purposes of United Kingdom external trade statistics and the Tariff. The date of the changeover must allow time for the necessary legislative changes. We have suggested as a target date January, 1972. Speed limits will be in metric terms in 1973 and plans are being made for the appropriate changes in road signs. We agree that it is right to concentrate efforts on the quick conversion of speed limit signs, and to leave the conversion of purely informative road signs to be spread over a longer period.

In the fuel and power industries we regard the main outstanding issue to be agreement on common units for the measurement of power and energy for all types of fuel and fuel burning equipment. Users should be able readily to compare the performance of fuels and equipment. This

possibility is virtually excluded if the units of measurement used continue to differ.

11 Preparations have been made for surveying land in metric units, for relating valuations to metric areas and for the use of metric units for land planning. The production of metric Ordnance Survey maps started in 1969. The programme provides for their steady extension to cover the whole country.

12

13

14

The Metrication Committee established by the National Farmers' Union
in collaboration with representatives of the other interests has made rapid
progress. Generally the organisations concerned are well equipped to carry
through the necessary changes. We see no reason why a target of 1972-73
should not be used for planning purposes by farmers and horticulturists.
As detailed plans are developed it may not prove possible to implement
all the necessary changes within this two-year span and some may extend
through 1974.

The White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board have jointly set up a working party to look into rationalisation, including the use of metric units, in the handling and marketing of fish.

We are satisfied that the planning for metrication in forestry is well
forward and that implementation of the plans is proceeding smoothly.

15 Industrial materials are of critical importance to the changeover in user industries. Uncertainty about the preferred metric sizes of a material and

Conclusions

its availability in metric quantities could be serious for all sectors using that material. While producers of industrial materials are giving a timely lead there are still awkward programme gaps to be filled, notably for some specifications of steel. The situation is generally encouraging and we expect it to develop substantially in 1970.

The construction industry was one of the first to embark on intensive
preparation for the change to the metric system. The broad programme
for the comprehensive introduction of dimensionally co-ordinated metric
design and construction was published by the British Standards Institution
in February, 1967. It is a formidable task to integrate the efforts of this
very fragmented industry. Moreover, the industry is dependent on a large
number of suppliers of materials and components. Close working relations
between Government Departments and the construction industry together
with the large volume of public sector work now being designed in metric
should ensure that the change, for all new work, is substantially complete
by the end of 1972. Our concern is that similar progress should be made
in the design of work for the private sector.

Progress in the engineering industries is, in general, encouraging, particularly in the larger companies which account for 80% of total production. Some of the smaller firms have shown notable initiative. We are, however, concerned about the problems of small firms. The studies which we are commissioning into the extent to which machine tools need to be converted and the most cost-saving way of carrying out such conversions should be of particular benefit to the smaller engineering firms. The British Standards Institution has provided a broad programme for the engineering industries. We are now concerned to ensure that the detailed programmes are prepared by individual sectors.

The paper and printing industries together with publishers have worked out proposals for going metric. These will be put into practice before the end of 1970.

The needs of consumers are met by a very wide range of manufacturing and service industries for which there is no comprehensive co-ordinated programme. This is probably not attainable but it should be possible to develop programmes for sectors within the broad group as well as for particular industries. We have not identified any insuperable difficulties in the way of the changeover. Packaging and weighing machinery present the main technical problems. The distinctive responsibility of producers will be a special effort to explain to their retailers the changes they make.

It is in the retail shop that metrication will make its widest and most
direct impact on the ordinary citizen. A careful examination shows that
the problems are not as large or as complex as is sometimes thought.
Most goods are sold by number and not by weight. A great many others
are pre-packed. Only a limited range of commodities is now weighed out
in the shop in front of the customer. Nevertheless it is the retailer who
will be called upon to reassure the individual customer. If he is to succeed,
the retailer will need help from manufacturers, from trade associations,
from the education service, from the Distributive Industry Training
Board, and from our own information and publicity campaigns. One M
Day for the retail trade is not practicable. There will have to be transition
periods which should be as short as possible. The longer the notice and
the clearer the guidance the less troublesome these will be. We are devoting
special attention to the problems of retailing milk, beer and petrol in
metric quantities.

Central Government has a major responsibility to ensure the success of its

64-181 O-71 - 13

Conclusions

metrication policy. Local authorities can make a substantial contribution.
Government Departments have already given encouragement and help to
those engaged in carrying through the change. We are in no doubt that the
time has come when the Government should make an early and
comprehensive announcement about the action which it intends to take
in furtherance of its metrication policy. The statement should describe
how the Government proposes to ensure that metrication will not be
impeded by legislative obstacles. It should bring together and express
more vigorously the ways in which public procurement will be used to
foster metrication. It might also set out the steps Departments are taking
to prepare themselves to work in a metric Britain. It should make clear
that Departments will be actively supporting the efforts of the progressive
elements and that the pace will not be determined by the more reluctant.
Local authorities are responsible for a wide range of services which enter
into the daily life of citizens. They are also very substantial purchasers.
They can therefore exert a powerful influence on the rate of change.

22 We have a major task of making the metric system intelligible, acceptable and familiar throughout the country. At this stage in the changeover we are concentrating on an adequate flow of information to industry. At the same time, we are keenly aware of the need to remove any misunderstandings among the general public. At the outset we found some confusion about what metric units would be used. We have taken every opportunity to clear this up, for example, we prepared a simple statement on everyday units which is being widely distributed. We have put in hand a very broadly based information campaign. We have mounted a number of exhibitions, produced films and issued a large number of leaflets. We shall expand this programme in 1970. The appetite for information is growing rapidly. We need to ensure that when the industrial changes take place everyone affected is informed and receptive. We shall rely heavily on the co-operation of others but we shall have to ensure that our direct effort expands to match the pace and spread of metrication within the national life.

Appendix A

The Board - membership and
terms of reference

Membership

Terms of reference

Lord Ritchie-Calder, CBE, MA (Chairman)

The Earl of Bessborough (Deputy Chairman)

G. Bowen, CB, CMG (Director)

M. A. Abrams, PhD

H. J. Cruickshank, CBE, CEng, MIMechE, FIOB, FBIM
D. H. Darbishire

A. G. Dawtry, CBE, TD, LLB

J. M. Ferguson, BSc, CEng, FIEE, FIMechE

P. Hanley

E. F. Knight, CEng, MIEE, MBIM

Professor M. L. McGlashan, PhD, DSC, FRIC

Sir Thomas Padmore, GCB

F. Lincoln Ralphs, PhD, MSc, LLB, DipEd

Mrs. Ailsa Stanley, JP

Secretary to the Board: F. H. Whitaker, CMG, OBE

1. The Board shall facilitate the transition from the use of existing systems
of weights and measures in the United Kingdom to the metric system on
the assumption that the end of 1975 should be the target operative date
for all provisional programmes, with the qualification that, if this date proves
to be unreasonable for any particular sector, the programme for that sector
may aim at an earlier or later date.

2. In particular the Board are required:

(a) to examine in consultation with such organisations and persons as the Board consider appropriate the problems involved in the transition;

(b) to advise the responsible Minister on the implications of the change to the metric system in each sector of the economy and, so far as practicable, the costs and other considerations involved, including any legislative changes which may be judged necessary;

(c) to make generally available information and advice on the co-ordination of timetables and programmes for the change in the various sectors of the economy;

(d) to furnish to any enquirer information and to publish, whether by advertisement or otherwise, such information as the Board may think useful for familiarising the public with the metric system;

(e) to ensure that the relevant educational interests are kept fully and
continually informed of plans and progress for metrication;

(f) to make investigations and surveys for obtaining information relevant

to the performance of any of the duties of the Board;

Appendix A: The Board

(g) to give such assistance to the Government as Departments may request in connection with the preparation or amendment of any legislation needed to permit the wider use of the metric system; and

(h) to give such other assistance as the Government may require in the implementation of Government policy on the adoption of the metric system.

3. The Board shall report annually to the Minister of Technology on the performance of their duties in a form suitable for publication.