Daylight Saving Bill

John Leech Excerpts

Friday 20th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Chope]

I hear what the hon. Gentleman says. This shows how complicated the issue is and why ultimately it should be left to the judgment of Members of Parliament based on the evidence presented.

[Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington) (LD)]

Does the hon. Gentleman not accept that most accidents happen during the period of the day that would benefit most from the change in time zones?

[Mr Chope]

I am afraid that I do not accept that. One specious statistic that has been mentioned suggests that more accidents involving children occur between 3 and 6 o’clock in the afternoon than between 7 and 10 in the morning. Of course, most children are at school from 8.30 am onwards, so between 8.30 and 10 am there are hardly any children around, whereas schools break up for the day earlier than they used to, so there is a lot more activity on the road among children between 3 and 6 o’clock. To compare the morning period to the afternoon period simplistically is not intellectually correct.