The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced a tiny but significant piece of progress on the long road to completing metrication in the UK.
Continue reading “Minor success for UKMA – imperial-only height and width signs to be discontinued”
Devolve Weights and Measures – says pro-metric group
Weights and Measures and related matters (such as road signs) should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament – according to the UK Metric Association.
Continue reading “Devolve Weights and Measures – says pro-metric group”
Government rejects bid to clarify law on product description and advertising
A Government Minister has thwarted an attempt by Lord Taverne to bring product description and advertising into line with the rules for package labelling and sales of loose goods from bulk.
Continue reading “Government rejects bid to clarify law on product description and advertising”
Maybe they were moonlighting …
In contrast to his last article, John Frewen-Lord takes a look this week at some of the activities of seven famous people who later had SI units of measurement named after them.
Putting Britain ahead …
On Newsnight on BBC2 last Monday, David Cameron, replying to questions on his personal views, said he preferred ancient to modern measurements. One of our regular contributors, John Frewen-Lord, speculates where such nostalgia might lead.
Will Scotland keep the pound avoirdupois as well as the pound sterling?
What impact would Scottish independence (if it were to happen) have on weights and measures? Martin Vlietstra supplies an answer.
Continue reading “Will Scotland keep the pound avoirdupois as well as the pound sterling?”
Hacking IKEA
It is said that people either love IKEA or hate it. Even those who fall into the latter group may find a recently published article amusing.
Metrication of the rail network
Last October Network Rail announced that they will be phasing out miles, chains and yards on the British Rail network in favour of metric units. This has already been done on most, if not all Britain’s metro and tram systems while the dimensions of railway vehicles have been measured in metric units since the 1970s. Why this change of heart?
(Article contributed by Martin Vlietstra)
As others see us
A recent survey carried out by IPSOS Mori on behalf of the British Council may go some way to explain the UK’s failure to complete the metric changeover.
US package labelling may be catching up
– but don’t hold your breath. One of our regular readers in the USA reports on the latest moves to permit metric-only labelling of packaging.
Metric Views 