§ 13. Mr. R. C. Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider extending the period of summer time?
§ 15. Sir P. Harrisasked the Home Secretary whether he will give consideration to the extension of summer time in order to make it easier for people to get home in daylight, and also to economise the use of electric light; and whether he will also consider making an appeal to traders to start business earlier and close earlier with the same object in view?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir John Anderson)I fully agree with my hon. Friends that wherever artificial light can be saved by starting work and ceasing work at an early hour, this course should be followed, but in prescribing by law a period of summer time for the whole of the UnitedKingdom, account has to be taken of a number of considerations, including the effect on agricultural as well as on urban areas. After review of the various considerations it was decided in 1925 that the period of summer time might be prolonged by a fortnight so as to end on the first Saturday in October, but there was considerable opposition to this course, and at the moment all I can say is that I am looking into the matter again in the light of present-day circumstances.