§ 20. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what estimate he has made of changes in output and productivity in manufacturing industry as a result of the introduction of British Standard Time.
Mr. Alan WilliamsAs I explained on 19th December, a few months' experience does not provide a valid basis for a firm assessment.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsSurely the Under-Secretary must have figures of any increase or decrease available. Is it not painfully obvious that this absurd experiment should come to an end as soon as possible?
Mr. WilliamsI am afraid that the information is not available, and could not possibly be available. We would first have to take into account whether this was a typical winter and, secondly, the transitional arrangements that industry, and particularly the construction industry, has to undertake to accommodate to a new situation.