> Of Stephen Humphreys >To be honest, apart from the the budget, I can't remember the >last time meaures were quoted in the two houses.
You can find out how frequently measures are used if you search what was said in the UK parliament at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/ Here is what was said recently in the House of Lords: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds05/text/5 0406-13.htm 6 Apr 2005 : Column 768 Lord Monson Is not one of the problems with Amendment No. 18, as drafted, that a 100-metre exclusion zone that started even at the south-eastern corner of Parliament Square would not, I suspect, protect the Black Rod's Garden entrance, for example, nor-although I have not had time to pace it out-would it protect the southernmost part of our car park? Would the noble Baroness consider returning at Third Reading with an amendment that compromises at somewhere between one kilometre and 100 metres? I would suggest a quarter of a mile-and I declare an interest as patron of the British Weights and Measures Association, to which the noble Lord, Lord Phillips of Sudbury, also belongs. Survey after survey has demonstrated that the great majority of people in this country, of all age groups, continue to think in Imperial terms, despite years of metric indoctrination. Setting down the limits in terms of yards or fractions of a mile would help the public to understand-quite literally-how far they could go. ... 6 Apr 2005 : Column 770 Baroness Scotland of Asthal The Government believe that no point in the designated area may be more than one kilometre in a straight line from the point nearest to it in Parliament Square. I say straightaway to the noble Lord, Lord Monson, that I understand his preference to use the old ways of defining distance rather than metres. I have that prejudice myself. However, in this we have to move with the times, and it would be more appropriate to remain in kilometres.
