HC Deb 13 April 1999 vol 329 c24W
Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining British Summer Time throughout the year. [79921]

Mr. George Howarth

The issues remain very much as set out in the previous Government's 1989 Green Paper "Summer Time—A Consultation Document". The responses revealed marked divergences of opinion. We will continue to listen to all sides of the argument, but have no current plans to publish a fresh analysis or to propose changing the present summer time arrangements.

Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the effect on(a) the number of accidents and (b) mortality rates if British Summer Time were to be maintained throughout the year. [79922]

Mr. George Howarth

I periodically receive representations from hon. Members, members of the public and interests groups in favour of continuous British summer time or Central European Time. They generally argue that lighter evenings would reduce road deaths and injuries overall.