British Summer Time
Posted by Richard Younger-Ross, MP for Teignbridge, at 14:26, Mon 31 March 2008:
Many thanks to all of you who responded to last week’s poll regarding the Budget and the impact that it would have on you personally. Many people felt that increases on the duty on alcohol would have little or no effect on the binge drinking culture that seems to exist in the UK, and would in fact have more of an effect on those people who enjoyed a glass of wine at home with dinner.
My constituency office has received numerous letters from individuals, both working and retired, and families alike who, despite the increases in Tax Credits and benefits have seen their household income go down due to the above inflation increases in cost of living expenses like gas and water bills.
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As you will be aware, particularly after an hours less sleep, the clocks went back on Sunday at 1am. Every year there seems to be a debate as to whether we should change the regime to allow us to have more daylight.
Two weeks ago, a Bill was brought before Parliament regarding Daylight Savings, and the way that our clocks move forward and back depending on the season.
The Bill proposes that the UK undertake a system of Single/Double Summer Time for a three year trial. It would mean moving the clocks two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time in the summer (GMT+2) and one hour ahead of GMT in the winter (GMT+1).
The Tourism Alliance and the Lighter Evenings All-Party Parliamentary group are leading a campaign for this change to be made, and they argue that the change would lead to a decrease in road traffic accidents, reduced energy costs and would lead to an increase in benefits for the tourism industry. They believe that the extra hour of daylight will also increase outdoor activity, leading to health improvements.
However, these plans are met with some concern, particularly from farmers and those living in Scotland where it will be darker for longer in the winter mornings.
What do you think? Do you think that the benefits of an extra hour of sunlight would warrant a change in the law, or are they over emphasised?
As always, please email me your thoughts to yrossr@parliament.uk
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