HC Deb 12 March 1970 vol 797 cc1544-5
21. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, before he concludes his review of the British Standard Time experiment, he will seek full and detailed reports on the working of this experiment from the Scottish building industry, the Scottish National Farmers Union and each of the Scottish local authority associations.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, who is co-ordinating the Scottish part of the review, is consulting the Scottish National Farmers Union and the Scottish local authority associations. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works is co-ordinating a survey of the effects of British Standard Time on the building industry, and this will enable Scottish interests to be separately identified.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

But unfortunately from past experience we have not much confidence in the value of the Secretary of State's supervision in this matter. Would the hon. Lady recognise that, in view of the fact that the inconvenience caused by this experiment has been particularly acute in Scotland, particular attention should be given to representations from Scottish sources?

Mrs. Williams

The hon. Gentleman will find it difficult to deny that the most thorough possible arrangements for consultation with Scottish interests have been made. It is up to those Scottish interests to make their case, as I am sure they will. The hon. Gentleman's rather abusive remarks about my right hon. Friend were not justified.

Mr. William Hamilton

Could my hon. Friend say whether the Scottish T.U.C. has changed its opinion on this matter, since up to now it has been in full support of the experiment?

Mrs. Williams

The Scottish T.U.C. is being consulted at present, but we have no reason to believe that it has changed its mind.