<P> In 1966 the Government announced the adoption in 1971 of a decimal currency . </P> <P> In 1965, the then Federation of British Industry informed the British Government that its members favoured the adoption of the metric system . The Board of Trade, on behalf of the Government, agreed to support a ten - year metrication programme There would be minimal legislation as the programme was to be voluntary and costs were to be borne where they fell . </P> <P> Work on adapting specifications started almost as soon as the government first gave its approval in 1965 . The BSI took the lead in coordinating the efforts of industry, and where appropriate working with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), CEE, CEN and CENELEC while the Royal Society liaised with professional societies, schools and the like . Initially the BSI targeted 1200 basic standards which were converted to metric units by 1970 . Most of the remaining 4000 standards were converted in the ensuing five years . </P> <P> There were three principal ways in which metrication was implemented: </P>

When did uk change from imperial to metric
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