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Proceeding contribution from Charles Hendry (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Friday, 26 January 2007. It occurred during Debate on bill on Energy Saving (Daylight) Bill.


Energy Saving (Daylight) Bill

My hon. Friend makes a tempting offer. We will not prevent the Bill from progressing to the next stage. There is scope for further debate, so we shall not vote against it. However, there are a wide range of reasons for holding further debate before the experiment starts. We have a fundamental concern about different time zones in England and Scotland, and the complications that that would create. Other difficulties would affect business. For example, this morning, I contacted a call centre for Virgin Atlantic and was told that it opened at 9 o’clock. Under the Bill, it would have to say, ““The office opens at 9 o’clock in England but at 8 o’clock in Scotland.”” That would cause unnecessary confusion. I hope that the Minister will not try to talk out the Bill—indeed, it would be challenging to do that for an hour and a half. I hope that we have raised some of our anxieties about the measure. I emphasise that the overriding concern and objection of those on the Conservative Front Bench is that it may lead to different time zones in England and Scotland. That would be undesirable.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
455 c1725-6 
Session
2006-07
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Devolved matters Conservation Accidents Energy Scotland Schools Transport Safety Roads Tourism Summertime Time zones Time Portugal
Legislation
Energy Saving (Daylight) Bill 2006-07
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk