HC Deb 23 August 1945 vol 413 cc782-3
44. Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is intended to revert to Greenwich Mean Time during the coming winter.

60. Mr. Snadden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to announce the abolition of single summer time and the reintroduction of Greenwich time at an early date.

73. Major Macpherson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to end summer-time before the coming winter; and, if so, when.

Mr. Ede

An announcement of the Government's decision will be made at an early date, but I regret I am not in a position to make a statement to-day.

Lieut.-Commander Braithwaite

In arriving at a decision, will the right hon. Gentleman and his colleagues bear in mind the great importance to agriculture of a reply in the affirmative?

Mr. Snadden

Will the right hon. Gentleman also bear in mind that the dairy farmers to-day are faced with very serious labour difficulties and that the extra hour very seriously aggravates those difficulties? And surely that now no——

Mr. Speaker

Supplementary questions should be directed to obtain information and not to advance arguments.

Mr. Evelyn Walkden

Is my right hon. Friend aware that shop workers would like the extra hour's sunshine as long as they can get it?

Mr. Ede

All these arguments and considerations are being most carefully considered and the balance of advantage will have to be struck in the end.

Mr. De la Bère

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that we must get all the food we possibly can?

Mr. Turton

Are we to understand that the undertaking given by the Lord President of the Council on 1st March no longer holds?

Mr. Ede

It was not an undertaking, but the statement that was then made is being borne in mind in the consideration that is being given to the matter, and I would like to assure the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) that we have in mind the need for getting all the food we can, and having regard to his frame and mine we have a personal sympathy in the matter.

Mr. M'Kie

Would the right hon. Gentleman make the information available at the earliest possible moment during the Recess?