§ Mr. MURROUGH WILSONasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the 1647W French Minister of Public Works that in the event of the maintenance of summer time in France the widest liberty will be given to prefects of departments to make any necessary changes in the time-tables of local train and tramway services and in school hours, with a view to bringing the least possible confusion into agricultural affairs; and whether, having regard to the objections to summer time entertained throughout Great Britain by farmers and others, he will consider the propriety of extending similar consideration to British agriculture?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have seen a report in the Press of the statement referred to. I understand that the local education authorities in this country already have power to vary the times of opening and closing their schools, provided the number of school hours be not changed. The alteration of tramway and railway services would be a matter for the consideration of the tramway and railway authorities, who would no doubt consider as favourably as possible any application made to them by the local agricultural interests.