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Metrication in the United Kingdom is the process of introduction of metric units for measurement. The UK is in the currently phasing out the legal status of most non-metric units.

Current usage

The UK currently uses a mix of metric and non-metric units for different purposes. The photo on the right shows an example of the current situation for common food products. Milk is frequently sold in multiples of the pint, but with metric units also displayed, as with the 2 Pint milk bottle shown. The salt and tinned beans are purely metric. The sausages are labeled "340g 12oz". By law since 1 January 2000, all loose goods sold by reference to units of quantity have to be sold using metric units, however traditional units may also be displayed. UK government policy is to eliminate by December 31, 2009 almost all non-metric units when used for goods and services sold by quantity. Goods and services sold by a description are not covered by weights and measures legislation. Thus, a fence panel sold as "6 foot by 6 foot" will continue to be legal after 2009 but a pole sold as "50 pence per linear foot" is illegal. Road signs and speed measurement in cars have no schedule to change to metric. Non-metric units allowed by UK law for economic, public health, public safety or administrative use from January 1, 2000 are limited to:

• the mile, yard, foot and inch for road traffic signs, distance and speed measurement,
• the pint for the dispensing of draught beer and cider, and for the sale of milk in returnable containers,
• the acre for land registration, and
• the troy ounce for transaction in precious metals.

Other exceptions include aviation, shipping and rail transport. For example, the foot for aircraft altitude, nautical miles and knots (, ).

Draught beer and cider are the only goods that may not be sold in metric units in the United Kingdom; the only legal measures for these drinks when sold on draught are ⅓ pint (190 ml) (rarely encountered), ½ pint (284 ml) and integer multiples of the latter.

Metric is now the system used in all industries. Products that may appear to be imperial are actually manufactured to metric specifications, using metric drawings and made on metric machines, even if references to imperial units persist in some areas.

The UK military continues to use fractions of an inch to measure amunition caliber.

History

The question of metrication in the UK has always been coloured by Britain's relationship with France, the system's originator. Although British inventer James Watt called for the creation of a global measurement system in 1783, a letter of invitation in 1790 from the French National Assembly to the British Parliament to help create such a system received no reply. The French continued alone and created the foundations of what is now called Système International d'Unités and is the sole measurement system for 95% of the world.

As use of the new system, originally called the "Decimal System", grew through Europe, pressure grew in the UK for decimalisation. The issue of decimalisation of measurement was intertwined in the UK with decimalisation of currency. The idea was first discussed by a Royal Commission that reported in 1818 , and again in Parliament by Sir John Wrottesley in 1824. Another Royal Commission was set up 1838 by Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Spring Rice (Later Lord Monteagle) and it reported in 1841 that decimal coinage was required first. A third commission advocated in 1853 decimal coinage in the form £ : 10 florin : 100 cent : 1000 mil. In the London Tavern on Bishopsgate St. 1854 Sir John Wrottesley set up the "Decimal Association" in order to lobby for decimalisation of both measurement and coinage. Sir John met with Gladstone a few days later but was unable to win him to the idea. In 1862, the Select Committee on Weights and Measures favoured the introduction of decimalisation to accompany the introduction of metric weights and measures . A further Royal Commission "on the on the question of the introduction of metric system of weights and measures" also reported in 1869 .

On the legal front, 1864 saw a Private Members Bill pass which legalised use of the metric system in contracts. However, ambiguous wording of the 1864 law meant that traders who posessed metric weights and measures were still liable to arrest under Acts 5 and 6 William IV c63. The situation was clarified in 1897 following another Select Committee which also recommended that metrication become compulsorary by 1899. In 1904, scientist Lord Kelvin lead a campaign for metrication and collected 8 million signitures of British subjects. Two years previously an Empire conference decided that metrication should be compulsory across the British Empire. On the opposition side, 1904 saw the establishment of the British Weights and Measures Association for "the purpose of defending and, where practicable, improving the present system of weights and measures". At this time 45% of British exports were to metricated countries. Parliament voted to set up a Select Committee on the matter.

This Select Committee reported in 1907 and a bill was drafted proposing compulsory metrication by 1910, including decimalisation of coinage. The opposition declared that decimalisation of coinage would cost £100m alone. The matter was dropped in the face of wars and depression, and would not be again raised until the 1951 Hudgson Report, the result of yet another Select Committee.

The Hudgson Report recommended compulsory metrication and currency decimalisation within 10 years. It said "The real problem facing Great Britain is not whether to adhere either to the imperial or to the Metric system, but to maintain two legal systems or to abolish the Imperial." The report also recommended that the change should be done in concert with the commonwealth (former Empire) and the USA. It also pointed out that metric standards were more accurate than Imperial ones, and that the yard and pound should be pegged to definate metric values. This was done by international agreement in 1959 and currently the yard is defined as 0.9144 metres exactly, and the pound as 0.453 592 37 kg exactly. Agreement could not be reached on the pint (and gallon), and this value still differs between the UK and US (the only countries that maintain legal definitions of these units).

In 1965 the UK Board of Trade and the CBI declared their full support for metrication and decimalisation. Currency decimalisation did finally take place in the UK on Decimal Day, 15 Febrary 1971. The UK Metrication Board was set up in 1969 with an "Advisory, educational and persuasive role", but without mandatory powers. Metric units have been taught in UK schools since the late 1960s, and certain industries also converted or largely converted decades ago. For example the paper industry converted in 1970, and the construction industry between 1969 and 1972—although certain products continue to be produced to with reference to imperial trade names but made using metric dimensions in the factory; for example, a 13mm thick plasterboard is still often called 'half-inch', even though the measurement is rounded to a convenient metric size and so is now only approximately half an inch thick.

A Commons debate in 1970 on the introduction of compulsorary metrication ended in farce. The governing Labour party was then unpopular and the opposition Conservatives revolted on the issue. Exaggerated cost estimates were raised without reference, ludicrous objections and calls for further select committees on the issue were voiced. Examples include,

• Robert Redmond, MP "When I have travelled abroad and particularly on the Continent, I have noticed that people have on their desks calculating machines while we in Britain do the same sums in our heads."

• Henry Kerby, MP "this metric madness, this alien academic nonsense, introduced secretly through the back door by a bunch of cranks and the big business tycoons...and put into clandestine operation."

• Carol Mather, MP "I am led to the conclusion that comprehensive universal metrication is a bit of a nonsense... there is a gap between the millimetre and the metre, there is no centimetre...The kilo is too heavy for the housewife to carry and we know that in France and Denmark they use the old system of the pound."

The press reports on the debate, particularly the "Daily Telegraph" and "The Times" were very favourable to the opinions of the conservatives. Following the debate the projected deadlines for the phased metrication steps were delayed one by one. The original intention of metrication "in concert with the commonwealth" backfired. Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa all completed their metrication processes by 1980. In the UK, the last laws which restricted the sale of metricated goods were only removed in 1995.

Costs

The estimated costs of metrication in the UK range from near zero to a 1970 estimate of £5bn (about £50bn in 2002 pounds ) by opponents of the change. True scientific calculations of the potential costs have been fairly rare. A 2005 report pointed to the metrication of the UK's 1m road signs as the major cost . A 1970's study by the UK Chemical industry estimated costs at £6m over seven years, or 0.25% of expected capital investment over the change period (1972 White Paper, 'Metrication' Cmnd 4880).

90% of UK exports go to metric countries, and there are costs to business of maintaining two production lines (domestic in Imperial and export in metric) These have been extimated at 3% of annual turnover by the Institute of Production Engineers, and at £1.1bn (1980) per annum by the CBI.

Opposition to metrication

There has been consistent opposition to the process of metrification from a relatively small group. See Metrication arguments and counter-arguments.

External links

• UK Government Department of Trade and Industry (policy statement)
• British Weights and Measures Association (anti-metric)
• UK metric association (pro-metric)
• Drop the Pint

References

1. English Linear Measures: an essay in origins, by Philip Grierson. 'The Stenton Lecture 1971', University of Reading.
2. The Basis of Measurement: Historical Aspects, by Thomas McGreevy. ISBN 0-948251-82-4
3. The Basis of Measurement: Metrication and Current Practice, by Thomas McGreevy. ISBN 0-948251-82-0

• Metrication
• Economy of the United Kingdom