Written question asked by John Wilkinson (Conservative) on Friday, 7 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 July 2000. It was answered by Alan Johnson (Labour) on Thursday, 13 July 2000 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate he has made of the cost to British traders of the law requiring goods to be sold in metric units. - Includes figure. (Holding answer 12 July 2000).

Answer: Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost to British traders of the law requiring goods to be sold in metric units. [130267] Mr. Alan Johnson: [holding answer 12 July 2000]: A compliance cost assessment was published by the Department of Trade and Industry in 1994, when the legislation was made to require loose goods to be sold in metric weights after 31 December 1999. The main cost for traders was identified as the conversion or replacement of imperial weighing machines. The average cost of conversion was estimated to be £100 per machine. The starting price for replacement was estimated to be £450 per machine. It was further estimated that 80 per cent. of machines were capable of conversion.

Secondary information