Parentline Plus wants UK to change clocks permanently

Parentline Plus has thrown its support for a campaign to change the clocks to gain an extra hour of evening sunshine.

They say the move could reduce road traffic accidents and decrease the risk of children becoming victims of crime putting parents at ease to let their sons and daughters outdoors when they come home from school.

Suzie Hayman, trustee of Parentline Plus said: “It is that particular time of day in winter around about sunset when it is not quite dark and not quite light. This is a key time children can be at danger and parents then have problems. If the clocks change permanently then it would reduce that particular risk of danger and could potentially save lives.”

The parenting expert said the extra hour of sunshine would mean parents would be happier to let their children out of the house more.

She added: “One of the real worries is parents who keep children indoors out of anxiety fuelling a nation of unfit, unsocial children because they don’t get the chance to play with friends. Anything that encourages kids to go out safely should be applauded.

If this means children will be in the parks and on the streets, it is a good thing.”

As well as reducing traffic accidents, it is thought the plan drawn up by environmental campaigners as part of the 10:10 climate change drive, will boost tourism by as much as £4billion a year and could create 80,000 newjobs as well as reduce cases of seasonal affective disorder and cut carbon emissions.

Currently the UK operates at GMT in the winter and GMT+1 in the summer. Under the proposal, the clocks will move forward an hour, potentially to run at GMT+1 in the winter and GMT+2 in the summer.

It means the clocks would still be put forward in spring and back in autumn, but the country would have moved an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening, when more people are awake.

Winchester MP Steve Brine is one of 64 MPs to announce his support for the Lighter Later campaign to shift the clocks forward by one hour throughout the entire year, which will be brought to Parliament in a private member’s bill. Mr Brine said: “Lighter evenings would mean safer roads, more jobs and a better quality of life for the constituents of Winchester and Chandler’s Ford. It will also aid our drive to reduce Winchester’s carbon footprint.”

On December 3, the Daylight Saving Bill will be going to the House of Commons where MPs will debate whether or not the UK should make the shift. A majority of UK citizens support the move, according to polls.

The bill calls for the Government to conduct a cross-departmental costbenefit analysis of the clock change.

Only if the benefits are confirmed, will a three-year trial then be enacted dubbed “Single/Double Summer Time.”

The move was given a boost when David Cameron said in August that the Government would “look at” the proposal in detail. He said: “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.”

A Hampshire MP is playing a leading role in rallying support for the Bill among Southern MPs.

Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, said she was doing “quite a lot of work” to persuade as many members as possible to attend the crunch vote. Ms Nokes said: “It’s the best chance we have had to get this through for a long time. I am feeling quite positive about it.”

Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, said: “All the studies show it would save potentially a lot of energy without a significant loss of amenity.”

● To support the Parentline Plus campaign call 0808 800 2222.