The competent authority may by regulations amend any enactment to which this section applies—
(a) by substituting an amount, quantity or rate expressed in metric units for an amount, quantity or rate not so expressed; or
(b) by substituting an expression which is compatible with the use of metric units for an expression that has reference to a non-metric unit (for example "acreage").
This section applies to the following enactments, that is to say—
(a) the provisions of the Acts mentioned in Schedule 3 to this Act which are specified in the third column of that Schedule;
(b) any other provision contained in an Act (whenever passed), being a provision whose subject-matter is akin to that of any of the provisions so specified;
(c) any scheme made or having effect as if made under Part I of the Agricultural Marketing Act 1958; and
(d) any enactment (whenever passed or made) relating to any of the following matters, that is to say—
(i) sea-fishing or fishing for shellfish, salmon or migratory trout;
(ii) salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels (within the meaning of those expressions as defined in section 41(1) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975);
Any amendments made in an enactment by regulations under this section shall be such as to preserve the effect of the enactment except to such extent as in the opinion of the authority making the regulations is necessary to obtain amounts, quantities or rates expressed in convenient and suitable terms.
Before making any regulations under this section the authority proposing to do so shall consult such organisations as appear to the authority appropriate as representing any interests concerned.
Subsection (4) does not apply to regulations which make amendments that apply only in relation to England.
Regulations under this section may contain such incidental, supplemental and consequential provisions as the authority making them considers expedient.
The power to make regulations under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument, which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
In this section—
"the competent authority" means the Minister, or the Secretary of State, or the Minister and the Secretary of State acting jointly;
"enactment" means any provision of a public general Act, of a local, private or personal Act, of a provisional order confirmed by an Act, or of any instrument made or having effect under an Act.