Is the Leader of the House aware that each year hundreds of people are needlessly killed and scores more injured all because we go through the ridiculous ritual of putting our clocks back every autumn? May we, therefore, have a debate on the benefits of extending British summer time throughout...

Is the Leader of the House aware that each year hundreds of people are needlessly killed and scores more injured all because we go through the ridiculous ritual of putting our clocks back every autumn? May we, therefore, have a debate on the benefits of extending British summer time throughout...

All I say to the right hon. Gentleman is that if he were to observe the views of his colleagues he would say that it is not a Government issue, but one on which there is much to be said on both sides. All of us greatly regret road and...

All I say to the right hon. Gentleman is that if he were to observe the views of his colleagues he would say that it is not a Government issue, but one on which there is much to be said on both sides. All of us greatly regret road and...

What assessment they have made of the estimate by University of Cambridge scientists, reported in Nature on 25 January, that moving the clocks forward to give an extra hour of daylight in the evening could save around £485 million per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 170,000 tonnes.

What assessment they have made of the estimate by University of Cambridge scientists, reported in Nature on 25 January, that moving the clocks forward to give an extra hour of daylight in the evening could save around £485 million per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 170,000 tonnes.

With so many offers of support, does my hon. Friend agree that it was slightly unfortunate that the Division took so long? Does not he think that it would be even more unfortunate if Government Whips tried to arrange for the Bill to be talked out, because a great majority...

With so many offers of support, does my hon. Friend agree that it was slightly unfortunate that the Division took so long? Does not he think that it would be even more unfortunate if Government Whips tried to arrange for the Bill to be talked out, because a great majority...

Will my hon. Friend take account of the fact that London is almost as sunny as Bournemouth, and that the London assembly supports the proposal?

Will my hon. Friend take account of the fact that London is almost as sunny as Bournemouth, and that the London assembly supports the proposal?

I am grateful for this overwhelming tide of support from all parts of the country. It makes me feel very optimistic about the outcome.

I am grateful for this overwhelming tide of support from all parts of the country. It makes me feel very optimistic about the outcome.

As my hon. Friend probably knows, when I was considering the matter 20 years ago, I thought that in the populated middle belt of Scotland there would be great gains. In answer to a question from me, the then Secretary of State for Scotland said that there was no law...

As my hon. Friend probably knows, when I was considering the matter 20 years ago, I thought that in the populated middle belt of Scotland there would be great gains. In answer to a question from me, the then Secretary of State for Scotland said that there was no law...

My hon. Friend makes an important point. I intend to refer to Scotland in a moment, but the point that he makes is quite significant because the accident reduction figures are particularly marked in the part of Scotland to which he refers.

My hon. Friend makes an important point. I intend to refer to Scotland in a moment, but the point that he makes is quite significant because the accident reduction figures are particularly marked in the part of Scotland to which he refers.

May I place on the record the support of Bournemouth borough council for the Bill? Has my hon. Friend received any support from other borough councils, unitary authorities, local government organisations and interested bodies throughout the country?

May I place on the record the support of Bournemouth borough council for the Bill? Has my hon. Friend received any support from other borough councils, unitary authorities, local government organisations and interested bodies throughout the country?

I warmly welcome the support of Bournemouth borough council, and I will also warmly welcome the support of my hon. Friend—if I get it—later in the morning. Quite a number of local authorities have been in touch with me. Indeed, I believe that it is the official position of the...

I warmly welcome the support of Bournemouth borough council, and I will also warmly welcome the support of my hon. Friend—if I get it—later in the morning. Quite a number of local authorities have been in touch with me. Indeed, I believe that it is the official position of the...

Will my hon. Friend confirm that not only has the Bill received support across the House of Commons, but a similar Bill was passed in the other place during the last parliamentary Session?

Will my hon. Friend confirm that not only has the Bill received support across the House of Commons, but a similar Bill was passed in the other place during the last parliamentary Session?

I do confirm that, and I will refer to the other place more than once later.

I do confirm that, and I will refer to the other place more than once later.

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. I do so reeling from my defeat in the Division. This is the first occasion on which I have moved a motion for which not a single colleague, or even I, actually voted. I hope that I...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. I do so reeling from my defeat in the Division. This is the first occasion on which I have moved a motion for which not a single colleague, or even I, actually voted. I hope that I...

Be that as it may. The advantages in quality of life terms are not confined to young people. Let me quote from a statement from Age Concern England:"““It has been Age Concern England’s policy to support the proposal of changing the clocks so that there are lighter evenings for many...

Be that as it may. The advantages in quality of life terms are not confined to young people. Let me quote from a statement from Age Concern England:"““It has been Age Concern England’s policy to support the proposal of changing the clocks so that there are lighter evenings for many...

Or 11 o’clock, as my hon. Friend suggests. Dark mornings can make one just as grumpy as dark evenings.

Or 11 o’clock, as my hon. Friend suggests. Dark mornings can make one just as grumpy as dark evenings.

Or 11 o’clock.

Or 11 o’clock.

The hon. Gentleman used the term ““grumpy”” and we can all be grumpy on occasions, but getting up on a winter’s morning in the dark can make one equally as grumpy, especially if the morning lasts until 10 o’clock—

The hon. Gentleman used the term ““grumpy”” and we can all be grumpy on occasions, but getting up on a winter’s morning in the dark can make one equally as grumpy, especially if the morning lasts until 10 o’clock—

My hon. Friend is right, and that is one reason why I have included in the Bill a requirement for the review panel to measure the effect on health. I was not particularly knowledgeable about SAD—I do not think that I have suffered from it—but the statistics that he cites...

My hon. Friend is right, and that is one reason why I have included in the Bill a requirement for the review panel to measure the effect on health. I was not particularly knowledgeable about SAD—I do not think that I have suffered from it—but the statistics that he cites...

The right hon. Gentleman may be surprised to learn that for some reason I did not think that that was an especially powerful argument to advance.

The right hon. Gentleman may be surprised to learn that for some reason I did not think that that was an especially powerful argument to advance.