WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICE (Functions of)

Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain the principal functions and highlight the main activities and achievements, in the year 1973, of the Weights and Measures Unit of his Ministry.

The Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen): Mr Speaker, Sir, the principal functions of the Weights and Measures Office, which is presently being administered by the Department of Trade, are to ensure that all weighing and measuring equipment used for purposes of trade in the Republic are accurate; to verify from time to time through surprise inspection that these are accurate and, if not, to prosecute traders found contravening the Weights and Measures Act.

The Weights and Measures Office has also been actively involved in the metrication exercise by being represented on a number of Working Committees. Through the Working committee on the Metric Daching, the Office together with representatives of the various other relevant departments have been studying the feasibility of introducing a metric daching. Similarly, on the Packaging Committee, the Office is assisting in the study of the rationalisation and standardisation of prepacked commodities. Thus, the Office is principally responsible for protecting the consumers from any cheating in weights and measures that the traders or the industry may resort to.

Last year, the Weights and Measures Office re-verified some 35,000 weights, measures and instruments used in the retail trade. It was also directly involved in the metrication exercise of some 1,400 units of petrol dispensing pumps at retail outlets. The Office had also stepped up, towards the end of last year, inspections on sales of food items to check profiteering through short weight. The present campaign of regular spot checks on bakeries, for example, is being carried out by officers from the Weights and Measures Office. Last year a total of 89 summonses were issued for contravention of the Weights and Measures Act.

It may be mentioned that the Department of Trade is at present also reviewing the Act with a view to introducing more effective legislation for the protection of consumers.

Mr Conceicao: Sir, can the Minister inform the House whether he has enough staff to man the Weights and Measures Unit?

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, I believe the Weights and Measures Office has the staff necessary for the functions that I have already described. But if there should be need for additional staff, then they will be considered in the usual way.