Daylight Saving Bill

Fiona Bruce Excerpts

Friday 20th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Chope]

No, I am not suggesting that at all. I am not suggesting that money is only to be made out of tourism during daylight hours. Indeed, there is a lot of tourism in London in the night time economy that is very beneficial to the country’s economy. I see my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood) in his place. He will know that the night time economy in Bournemouth is also flourishing and thriving. That is not dependent on having this Bill on the statute book.

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

Is not another piece of evidence the fact that about £138 million a year could be saved in the NHS by reducing the number of road casualties?

[Mr Chope]

My hon. Friend refers to another piece of evidence. I do not know whether it is correct.

[Fiona Bruce]

Apparently the figure comes from the Department for Transport’s estimates.

[Mr Chope]

As a former Transport Minister, far be it from me to criticise the Department for Transport. I have to say, though, that most of the alleged benefits—by which I mean the reduction in the numbers of road casualties—would occur in Scotland, but given that road safety is, as I understand it, a devolved matter, if the Scottish Parliament wishes to take action to improve road safety, including by doing something along the lines suggested in the Bill, surely it must be a matter for the Scottish Parliament. I am conscious that on Second Reading mention was made of the fact that during the last experiment in the north of Scotland, notwithstanding changes being made to drink-driving laws and so on, the number of road casualties actually increased.