§ 56. Sir J. Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial advantage he estimates that British Standard Time has given to agricultural production in Scotland.
§ Mr. RossI am not aware of any claim that the introduction of British Standard Time will give direct and calculable advantage to agricultural production in Scotland. Its effects will have to be assessed in relation to the entire economy and to the welfare of the community as a whole.
Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has now received relating to the introduction of British Standard Time; and how many of these representations were, in general, critical of the new arrangements.
§ Mr. RossI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Members for Dumfries (Mr. Monro), South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne), Ayr (Mr. Younger) and Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey).
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what statistics he has for the months of November and December, in 1967 and 1968, respectively, showing the number of accidents to schoolchildren between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.;
(2) how many children were killed in road accidents in the hours between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, in November to December, 1967, and November to December, 1968.
§ Mr. RossThe available statistics do not distinguish school children from other children under 15, but the following figures relate to weekdays only. In November and December, 1968, between90W 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., 62 children were injured in road accidents, one of them fatally; the corresponding figures for 1967 were 71 injured, two fatally. Between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., 224 children were injured, three of them fatally, in 1968, and 218, seven fatally, in 1967.