§ VISCOUNT MOUNTGARRETMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider extending, in future, the period of British Summer Time to the fourth Sunday in November, each year, and reintroducing it on the first Sunday in March.
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, the House may recall that the British Standard Time Act 1968 introduced by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary provided for British Standard Time; that is, one hour in advance of Greenwich Mean Time throughout the year, to be introduced for an experimental period of three years ending on October 31, 1971. The Act laid down that at this date there would be reversion to Greenwich Mean Time for the winter unless an Order making British Standard Time permanent had been approved by both Houses before the end of the year 1970. When this matter was debated in another place it was decided by a majority of 366 to 81 on a free vote not to make such an Order. This meant that our time system reverted to that in force before 1968. It is the belief of my right honourable friend that any attempt to alter the existing arrangements in the way suggested would be no more generally acceptable than the present system.
§ VISCOUNT MOUNTGARRETMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his 1232 very full and comprehensive Answer, but may I ask whether the Government are aware of the serious effect which the present arrangement has on the farmers of this country? Are the Government aware that until the end of November it is lighter at 7 o'clock in the morning than at 4.30 in the afternoon? Furthermore, are the Government aware that until two weeks ago only 40 per cent. of our usual annual winter cereal sowing was in the ground and that this has led to a great deal of inconvenience to farmers? I also ask the Government—
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, I am sorry to intervene, but I think that the noble Lord has already asked three or four questions—in a questioning way but coming close to a speech—and I think he should let my noble friend reply. If he has a further supplementary question, I suggest that he puts it afterwards.
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, past Governments have been well aware of this factor and have examined the matter very carefully. By general consent, the present arrangement seems to be the most suitable. It was largely on account of these matters that from 1961 to 1967 the period was extended by three weeks either way, and that is the position with which we are faced at present. There is no reason to believe that extending it in the way the noble Lord suggests would really improve the situation.
§ LORD RAGLANMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that British Summer Time was first introduced in 1916 to help the war effort and save fuel and that during the last war we had Double Summer Time also in order to save fuel? Will the Government give very serious consideration to the reintroduction of British Standard Time as an effective way of saving fuel in our present and probably our future situation?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I will bear this matter in mind, but I must say that it has been examined very carefully and there is no evidence to prove that it will make the saving that the noble Lord suggests.