§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has had regarding the introduction of British Standard Time; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. MacArthurasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received about the proposal to introduce British Standard Time; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. BuchanSince my right hon. Friend's Answer to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 25th June he has received three representations against British Standard Time from the Association of County Councils, Inverkeithing Town Council and the Scottish Division of the Headmasters' Conference.
All these representations have been acknowledged but no other reply has been sent except where information was specifically requested.—[Vol. 767, c. 66–7.]
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIn view of the massive opposition in Scotland to the introduction of British Standard Time, even though the Bill has been steamrollered through Committee, will the Minister, even at this stage, go back to his right hon. Friend and get him to tell the Cabinet that for the sake of Scotland this proposal must be dropped now?
§ Mr. BuchanFar from being steamrollered through Committee, a substantial development has taken place in the Bill. That is to say, it has been decided that it would be better to see what are the effects in practice. It has been decided to institute a three-year experimental system. I advise the hon. Gentleman to wait to see how it works out.
§ Mr. MacArthurIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that the alleged benefit of this new system is highly questionable and that in Scotland the proposal is contrary to the wishes of the people and also totally contrary to commonsense? Will he not recognise that the only proper course left to the Government is to remove the proposal altogether and at last have some respect for the wishes of the Scottish people?
§ Mr. BuchanIt depends on what is meant by the Scottish people. If the hon. Gentleman had consulted his friends in the Scottish Confederation of British Industry, he would have discovered that it was one of the bodies which approved the system, as were the Scottish T.U.C. and the Scottish Council for Development in Industry. It is not so simple as the hon. Gentleman suggests. A number of county councils in the initial stages were not opposed to the scheme. I think that it is correct to have a three-year experiment and see the result. There are certain advantages to Britain as a whole and certainly to Scotland as an exporting country, and at least we should try the system as an experiment.
§ Mr. HefferIs my hon. Friend aware that there is concern not merely in Scotland, but in other parts of the British Isles? Is he aware that there is deep concern in the building industry among both employers and operatives? Can he make representations to his right hon. Friends to have the experimental period reduced from three years to one year, as I suggested on Second Reading.
§ Mr. BuchanI recognise that this is a problem which is not confined to North of the Border. The voice of Liverpool has now been expressed and I am glad to hear that there is this broadening out of what is sometimes a parochial dispute. However, a one-year period would not give us the opportunity to decide the merits or otherwise of the scheme. I know the North. I was brought up in the Orkneys and I went to school in the dark and came home in the dark—[HON. MEMBERS: "He is still in the dark."]—for many months of the winter. [Interruption.] My hon. Friend has stolen my punchline. I was about to say that they have not yet seen the light down here.
§ Mr. Adam HunterIs my hon. Friend aware that Fife County Council protested some months ago against the introduction of British standard Time, but has now waived its protest and is prepared to give the experiment a one-year trial before taking any further action?
§ Mr. BuchanI am glad to have that point brought forward. People are beginning to consider this seriously and the next move will be when we have seen it working in practice.