Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Levene of Portsoken (Crossbench). It was answered on Monday, 7 November 2005.

British Summer Time

Question: My Lords, we debated the subject in this House about 18 months ago and perhaps I may repeat the remarks I made. A businessman travelling from London to Paris leaves London at eight in the morning and arrives in Paris at 10; a businessman travelling from Paris to London leaves Paris at eight and arrives in London at eight. That is a huge commercial disadvantage. Furthermore, I do not understand how, with the greatest respect to the farmers in the northernmost parts of the Union, that the time matters quite so much. The cows do not look at the clock, but our competitors in Frankfurt and in Paris do. We should recognise that as soon as possible.

Answer: My Lords, as far as I know, and from brief inquiries, there is no strong push from the business community to make this change.

Secondary information