If the noble Lord will gave way, I thought I said at the start of dealing with first amendment that I did not propose to revisit every issue discussed at Second Reading. That issue was touched upon at Second Reading by a number of noble Lords, including my noble friend Lord Sainsbury.

If the noble Lord will gave way, I thought I said at the start of dealing with first amendment that I did not propose to revisit every issue discussed at Second Reading. That issue was touched upon at Second Reading by a number of noble Lords, including my noble friend Lord Sainsbury.

I thank the noble Lord for giving way. Portugal and Spain have different time zones.

I thank the noble Lord for giving way. Portugal and Spain have different time zones.

That is not exactly what I said. I said that I could not think of a state within the European Union where different zones are used within that state. We understand the necessity for different time zones in Russia and the United States, but to have different time zones in the United Kingdom...

That is not exactly what I said. I said that I could not think of a state within the European Union where different zones are used within that state. We understand the necessity for different time zones in Russia and the United States, but to have different time zones in the United Kingdom...

I would be concerned if this Bill were passed without a major conundrum being resolved. On the one hand, if Scotland were to join England in advancing its clocks by one hour, it would mean that those at the western and northern extremes would spend a considerable part of the first...

I would be concerned if this Bill were passed without a major conundrum being resolved. On the one hand, if Scotland were to join England in advancing its clocks by one hour, it would mean that those at the western and northern extremes would spend a considerable part of the first...

I, too, support this amendment. It would be ridiculous and inconvenient to have different time zones between England and Scotland or any other parts of the United Kingdom. As one who lived in the north of Scotland, in north-east Aberdeenshire, through the experimental period back in the 1970s, I can confirm what...

I, too, support this amendment. It would be ridiculous and inconvenient to have different time zones between England and Scotland or any other parts of the United Kingdom. As one who lived in the north of Scotland, in north-east Aberdeenshire, through the experimental period back in the 1970s, I can confirm what...

I will briefly make a comment here. I initially said at Second Reading that the real problem is the fact that geography dictates that you only have X amount of light hours in the day, and it is merely a matter of how we use them. I also pointed out at that time,...

I will briefly make a comment here. I initially said at Second Reading that the real problem is the fact that geography dictates that you only have X amount of light hours in the day, and it is merely a matter of how we use them. I also pointed out at that time,...

The thrust of Amendment No. 4 is to seek to ensure that the experiment would take place only if each of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set a date for participation, and one which would have to be before 25 October 2009, when the Act would expire. As the noble Lord, Lord Jopling, acknowledged, the wording...

The thrust of Amendment No. 4 is to seek to ensure that the experiment would take place only if each of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set a date for participation, and one which would have to be before 25 October 2009, when the Act would expire. As the noble Lord, Lord Jopling, acknowledged, the wording...

I thank the noble Lord for giving way. How on earth can children go from England to Scotland? How many schools go from England to Scotland in the course of a day to check their watches? I would be interested to know. The noble Lord makes it sound as though this happens right across...

I thank the noble Lord for giving way. How on earth can children go from England to Scotland? How many schools go from England to Scotland in the course of a day to check their watches? I would be interested to know. The noble Lord makes it sound as though this happens right across...

I thank the noble Lord for giving way. He is quite right, but he has failed to mention what was an emotional charge to that debate, owing to a tragic accident where a school bus ran over a crocodile of school children in Stornoway. That was the main reason for the objection...

I thank the noble Lord for giving way. He is quite right, but he has failed to mention what was an emotional charge to that debate, owing to a tragic accident where a school bus ran over a crocodile of school children in Stornoway. That was the main reason for the objection...

All I can say to the noble Lord is that that is not my recollection. All Members of the House had received a torrent of letters from people giving reasons quite different from the road safety aspect. I agree that that was a part of it, but it is my strong recollection that...

All I can say to the noble Lord is that that is not my recollection. All Members of the House had received a torrent of letters from people giving reasons quite different from the road safety aspect. I agree that that was a part of it, but it is my strong recollection that...

moved Amendment No. 2:"Page 2, line 7, leave out paragraphs (c) and (d)." On Question, amendment agreed to. [Amendment No. 3 not moved.]

moved Amendment No. 2:"Page 2, line 7, leave out paragraphs (c) and (d)." On Question, amendment agreed to. [Amendment No. 3 not moved.]

moved Amendment No. 4:"Page 2, line 13, at end insert—" ““( ) This Act shall come into force only if a commencement date has been appointed in all of the cases in paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (2).”” The noble Lord said: I apologise to the Committee that I was not able to be here...

moved Amendment No. 4:"Page 2, line 13, at end insert—" ““( ) This Act shall come into force only if a commencement date has been appointed in all of the cases in paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (2).”” The noble Lord said: I apologise to the Committee that I was not able to be here...

It falls to me to set out the Government’s position on the amendments. Noble Lords will be aware of the history of the issue, which was reviewed by my noble friend Lord Sainsbury at Second Reading last month. He outlined on that occasion why the Government see no reason to change...

It falls to me to set out the Government’s position on the amendments. Noble Lords will be aware of the history of the issue, which was reviewed by my noble friend Lord Sainsbury at Second Reading last month. He outlined on that occasion why the Government see no reason to change...

moved Amendment No. 1A:"Page 2, line 4, leave out ““2006”” and insert ““2008””" The noble Lord said: As I argued on Second Reading, if there are enough people in this country who want to sacrifice lighter mornings in favour of lighter evenings, in most cases there is nothing to stop them collectively in conjunction with...

moved Amendment No. 1A:"Page 2, line 4, leave out ““2006”” and insert ““2008””" The noble Lord said: As I argued on Second Reading, if there are enough people in this country who want to sacrifice lighter mornings in favour of lighter evenings, in most cases there is nothing to stop them collectively in conjunction with...

I also do not feel happy with the amendment. It may be worth saying that I have been advised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents that it takes at least three years to accumulate data to find out which is the better—lighter evenings or lighter mornings. This is the...

I also do not feel happy with the amendment. It may be worth saying that I have been advised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents that it takes at least three years to accumulate data to find out which is the better—lighter evenings or lighter mornings. This is the...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Jopling, for his support. I see the merits in his amendments. It is better to try the voluntary route first rather than rushing into the compulsory one, as my noble friend Lord Tanlaw proposes. However, this is not my preferred amendment: I shall return to the matter...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Jopling, for his support. I see the merits in his amendments. It is better to try the voluntary route first rather than rushing into the compulsory one, as my noble friend Lord Tanlaw proposes. However, this is not my preferred amendment: I shall return to the matter...

The noble Lord’s amendment is in many ways similar to my Amendment No. 3. All I will say at this stage is that I am particularly keen in a few moments to move Amendment No. 4, which is extremely important. I certainly support what the noble Lord said in moving the amendment. If we are to...

The noble Lord’s amendment is in many ways similar to my Amendment No. 3. All I will say at this stage is that I am particularly keen in a few moments to move Amendment No. 4, which is extremely important. I certainly support what the noble Lord said in moving the amendment. If we are to...

I repeat that this amendment also does not give us any greater comfort on the Bill. I add that there is nothing at the moment to stop people experimenting with changed working arrangements and it does not require the Bill to facilitate that.

I repeat that this amendment also does not give us any greater comfort on the Bill. I add that there is nothing at the moment to stop people experimenting with changed working arrangements and it does not require the Bill to facilitate that.

moved Amendment No. 1:"Page 1, line 18, leave out ““decision of whether to bring into force in Scotland”” and insert ““subject-matter of””" The noble Lord said: In speaking to Amendment No. 1, I shall speak also to Amendments No. 2 and 5. They are basically technical amendments suggested by the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee that has reported...

moved Amendment No. 1:"Page 1, line 18, leave out ““decision of whether to bring into force in Scotland”” and insert ““subject-matter of””" The noble Lord said: In speaking to Amendment No. 1, I shall speak also to Amendments No. 2 and 5. They are basically technical amendments suggested by the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee that has reported...

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into Committee on this Bill. Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to. House in Committee accordingly. [The DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (Lord Haskel) in the Chair.] Clauses 1 to 3 agreed to. Clause 4 [Amendment of Scotland Act 1998]:

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now resolve itself into Committee on this Bill. Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to. House in Committee accordingly. [The DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (Lord Haskel) in the Chair.] Clauses 1 to 3 agreed to. Clause 4 [Amendment of Scotland Act 1998]: