asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the fact that the National Federation of Meat Traders' Associations is not proposing to change to metric measurement, she will ensure that young people continue to be taught and examined in traditional types of measurement, thus ensuring that future recruits into the industry will be able to understand their work.

This is a curriculum matter and as such is the responsibility of the local education authorities and the governors of schools and colleges. In October, 1969, the Department issued a memorandum suggesting that although pupils should become increasingly familiar with metric units they should retain an adequate knowledge of imperial measures for everyday needs. This would include the needs my hon. Friend has in mind. The plans of the examining bodies to introduce examinations in metric units are open to modification according to the speed at which industry and commerce adopt those units.