Don’t keep us in the dark

English MPs want the Prime Minister to introduce British Summer Time throughout the year to give families one hour more of daylight in the evenings.

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But most Scots are firmly opposed as they fear children would travel to school in darker mornings throughout much of the winter, risking more traffic accidents. Tourism chiefs south of the Border back the move to bring Britain into line with most of continental Europe, saying it would boost the leisure industry.

Rebecca Harris, the Tory MP for Castle Point, Essex, will try to change the time zone with a new bill in the autumn.

While previous attempts to introduce “Double Summer Time” have ended in failure, the Prime Minister yesterday gave his strongest signal yet that the ToryLib Dem coalition would take it seriously.

Mr Cameron insisted he would only press ahead with the change if Scotland could be ahead with the change if Scotland could be convinced of the potential benefits. He also ruled out separate time zones north and south of the Border.

However, the move remains strongly resisted in Scotland, where it would mean that in winter, the sun would not rise until almost 10am.

SNP MP for the Western Isles, Angus MacNeil, one of the areas which would be worst hit by the time change, said: “David Cameron needs to wake up to the impact these proposals would have on people in Scotland.

“Plunging Dundee into darkness to boost tourism in Torquay is simply not acceptable and would make a mockery of Mr Cameron’s respect agenda.

“There are alternatives which would balance the interests of all who share these Islands – including setting Daylight Savings Time closer to midwinter or encouraging people down south to get up earlier to enjoy the morning sunshine.”

James Kelly, Scottish Labour’s deputy justice spokesman added: “These proposals are badly thought through and will quite literally leave Scotland in the dark.

“We have very deep concerns about children’s safety walking to school in the dark winter mornings. It would have a huge impact on people’s working lives, especially in rural areas where farmers would have to work longer in darkness.”

Ms Harris, has tabled a bill asking the Government to “conduct a cross-departmental analysis of the potential costs and benefits of advancing time by one hour for all, or part of, the year.”

That could mean putting the clocks forward by two hours in summer for a “Double Summer Time” effect.

Alternatively, the British time zone could be permanently brought forward in both winter and summer, putting the UK in the same time zone as most of continental Europe.

Any change would mean lighter evenings, with sunset in midsummer put back to after 10pm in many parts of the country.

Mr Cameron signalled his willingness to consider the time switch during a London speech on tourism.

“We certainly will look at it,” the Prime Minister said on the eve of his family holiday in Cornwall.

“The argument will be won when people across the country feel comfortable with the change,” he said.

“It’s always been about the problems of getting children in the north of England and in Scotland to school.

“It’s up to those who want to make the change to make the argument to try to convince people right across the country that it’s a good thing.”

But the Scottish Government also voiced its opposition last night. A spokesman said: “The current system of daylight saving should be maintained to protect the safety of children travelling to Scotland’s schools.

“If clocks were not to be turned back an hour in winter, Scotland would have no daylight between 8 and 9am and children would face the dangers of travelling to school in the dark.”