Daylight Saving Bill
Posted by Tom Greatrex, MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, at 13:17, Wed 12 January 2011:
Whilst the Government of the day tends to produce the majority of legislation in Parliament, sometimes more interesting proposals and issues come in the form of a Private Members’ Bill, where a backbench MP attempts to take a bill through Parliament. One current example of this is the Daylight Saving Bill which would move the time forward by one hour for most of the year. In other words, we’d be on GMT in the winter and GMT +1 in the summer.
The Bill has been supported by a range of interests, including some who claim that it will help prevent road accidents and reduce energy consumption. On the other hand, there are many people who are concerned about Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland being in darkness in winter until late into the morning.
Some may recall when this idea was trialled by Harold Wilson’s government in the late sixties, there was a noted rise in road accident deaths in the darker mornings, as well as opposition from the farming community.
I’d be interested in constituents’ views on this issue.
Comments
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Posted by Marianne Munro, 13:35, Wed 12 January 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
I am definitely in favour of this change.
This would allow more productivity in the longer afternoons/evenings and would bring us into line with the rest of Europe. It would certainly stop me hibernating and becoming a recluse in the winter.
Posted by Martin Law, 14:17, Wed 12 January 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
Hi Tom,
In a previous email to you, I expressed my enthusiasm for this change. I believe that the lighter evenings would encourage exercise and decreased car use.
Yes, the darker mornings may pose some problems. However, a trial would surely give solid evidence either for or against making the time shift permanent, and so I am for the Bill.
Posted by David McIntyre, 17:04, Wed 12 January 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
I am confused, I believe the UK operates on GMT in the winter and GMT+1 in the summer. I thought the proposal was to move to Central European Time CET. GMT+1 in the winter and GMT+2 in the summer.
For Glasgow this would mean that the latest sunrise would be 9.48am but instead of getting dark at 4pm we would have light until 5pm. In the summer there is great advantage. Instead of sunrise at 4.30am in June it would be 5.30am but it would not get dark until after 11pm. Most of us want more light in the evening rather than at 4.30 in the morning when we want to sleep.
In addition, it would prevent all those confusing email messages when I arrange conference calls with clients and colleagues in mainland Europe.
Posted by jack curry, 17:39, Wed 12 January 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
I am also confused by the bill and checking the web it is currently as follows: BST (GMT+1) Begins 27 March 2011: 1 am > 2am BST (GMT) Ends 30 October 2011: 2 am > 1am
Personally I hate getting up in the dark - i actually don't want to get up, i don't mind going home in the dark, as i have heat and light when i get there :o)
Nothing suits everyone though...lighter nights could lead to increased car and bike use by those that enjoy playing in/on them. As a motorcyclist I include myself, wrestling my old bike around is also plenty exercise for me. I think however; if for the sake of argument there was a public vote, ideally changes voted for should be based on how it benefits our society as a whole and not by personal preference which would require a proper study that people could believe in, but would also rely on people being selfless. Just realised why the public don't get to vote on every issue :o)
PS. Anyone else sick of these American English spell-checkers popping up all over the webbing place.
Posted by jack curry, 19:10, Wed 12 January 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
Ignore my American English spell check comment...is my OPERA web browser thats doing it...only took about 2 weeks to realise this! Golly I am stupid sometimes.
Posted by John Hailey, 16:27, Thu 13 January 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
Hi Tom
I don't think it would be a good idea to switch to CET (which is effectively what we would be doing). While the longer evenings would be great I don't think it would be good for the country to still be in darkness at 9am for weeks at a time.
However, I can't help but think there are far more pressing issues for you and your colleagues to be spending your time on. A few examples:
1. The complete and utter failure of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee to deal with the high rate of inflation. This is destroying our savings and ensuring our wages are worth less and less with each passing month.
2. The blatant tax evasion by wealthy individuals and corporations which seems to not only go unpunished, but in fact is rewarded! For example, if I decide not to pay council tax I get a summons, but when Philip Green dodges his tax bill he gets a knighthood. What kind of a message is Parliament trying to send to the citizens of this country?
3. The fact that despite recent falls in house prices it is still more difficult than ever for prospective First Time Buyers such as myself to get onto the property ladder.
I appreciate these examples are biased towards the economy, but I think each of these three issues have a far bigger impact on the people of Scotland than whether or not we should move to CET.
Just my personal opinion of course...
Posted by Steven Kelly, 23:20, Thu 13 January 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
Personally, I see no advantage from this change. As some have already said its a personal preference but surely it would only be reasonable to enforce changing something as fundamental as the time of day by proving solid and compelling evidence of a benefit. If indeed there would be fewer road accidents or a reduction in energy consumption, I wouldn't be opposed. However in the face of no substantial evidence, presently I'd oppose change for change sake.
Posted by Tom Greatrex, 13:19, Fri 14 January 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
David and Jack - apologies, my message should of course read GMT+1 in winter, GMT+2 in summer.
John - thanks for your comments. I agree this is not the most pressing of issues, but it is something where there are genuinely different views and I was interested to hear what people in Rutherglen & Hamilton West think.
Posted by John Marley, 19:20, Fri 14 January 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
I don't think that altering out current time settings will make much difference to the majority of people in the UK. Obviously, there is a great degree of daylight variation from North to South but unless there are significant (scientifically proven) reasons to change then it's really not worth the effort, expense and confusion. If the Wilson Government trialled it and there was a major catalogued rise in road accidents then that's reason enough not to tinker with it.
Posted by Graham Fisher, 23:00, Fri 14 January 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
Sounds like a plan I dont buy into the accidents problem, cars in the 70's were much poorer equiped.
Posted by Marianne Munro, 18:24, Sat 15 January 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
I agree about the state of cars in the 70s. Also, I believe people drive better in the mornings because they are much more alert after a good night's sleep. I know I am.
Phychologists advise we should visit our dentist or have an operation in the morning because the dentists/surgeons are fresh and perform better in the mornings. If there is less light it would be safer to drive in the mornings.
Also, In the USA and various other countries there are different time zones. I'm sure we could handle that too.