asked the Secretary of State for Trade what changes have been required in staffing and costs to ensure inspection of package weights on the basis of average weights rather than minimum weights.

The number of staff employed is entirely a matter for the local authorities concerned. No staff changes are necessarily required by the introduction of the "average" system of weights and measures for prepackaged goods on 1 January 1980. There will however be a shift of emphasis in inspection to the premises where packages are filled or imported and away from the retail outlets where they are sold to consumers. Some local authorities may have more work to contend with, and others less. The staff concerned are likely to be employed on a wide range of other consumer protection duties in addition to those relating to the testing of prepackages.