MP tries again to adjust the clocks

Tim Yeo's Energy Saving (Daylight) Bill was effectively talked out of the Commons last January, but undaunted the MP for Suffolk South and former environment minister has managed to get his proposals debated again.

The Bill would mean moving the clocks an hour forward in England, on a three-year trial basis. Winter would be one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and summer time would be two hours ahead. It would therefore get lighter an hour later in the morning and darker an hour later in the evening.

Mr Yeo said Cambridge University research had suggested there would be an average reduction in daily electricity consumption during winter months of 2% by moving to GMT plus one hour, cutting winter CO2 emissions by about 1.2 million tons. The saving would come from reducing early evening peaks in demand and removing the need to keep as much power on stand-by.

He added that the measure would also make the roads safer, cut crime and anti-social behaviour and boost social and recreational opportunities. It would also bring the UK into line with the rest of Europe and could even reduce "seasonal affective disorder".

There have many Parliamentary attempts to move the clocks over the years, but all have failed. It was agreed that the debate over a second reading for the Bill would be continued in the Commons next week.