§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet the European Commission to discuss its view that any review of the application of summer time should be conducted at Community level; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Angela RumboldThe annual period of summer time has been the subject of successive Community directives since 1981. Like the current directive, for 1990–92, the draft sixth Directive for 1993 and 1994 provides for the United Kingdom and Ireland to end summer time at a date different from that for other member states or to adopt the common ending date if we wish. While Her Majesty's Government are always ready to discuss the directives with the Commission as necessary, I am not aware that the Commission has expressed any preference for exercising responsibility for summer time arrangements beyond that reflected in existing texts.