Through its Government Liaison Working Group which it chairs and convenes, SIM has for many years advised and urged HMG to maintain and properly fund the NMS, the National Measurement System (at one time it was under threat). This facility not only gives British industry vital access to accurate standards of measurement, but constantly researches and develops methods for making such standards more accurate and accessible.

From April 1st, the NMS will become part of NWM, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, at Teddington, Middlesex. A new Agency will be created and called the National Measurement Office, NMO.

Robert Gunn, head of NMS writes, “The integration would bring the UK more in line with the most common international position where scientific metrology (the core of the NMS work) and legal metrology (NWML’s responsibility) are closely aligned or fully integrated. The work of the two units is already complementary. The NMS is a key resource for promoting innovation and the NMS Unit in DIUS has developed policies for maximising impact and efficiency, as well as commissioning and delivering the scientific NMS programmes. NWML already carries out policy work on the regulatory aspects of metrology, as well as delivering services. Incorporating the NMS Unit within NWML would aid the Agency in maintaining critical mass, giving it greater long term stability and a higher profile, whilst at the same time unifying the responsibility for all aspects of metrology under a single Senior Civil Servant, Peter Mason, the Chief Executive.”

Deputy Master David Smith, current SIM Chair of GLWG said, “Over the years, WCSIM has been very active in advising successive governments on the vital importance to the instrument sector of maintaining UK’s independent National Measurement System”. He added, “We trust that this fusion with NWML serves to secure a strong and ever more important role for the NMS unit and we hope to meet Peter Mason very soon”.