The Daylight Saving Bill, tabled by Rebecca Harris MP, passed the Second Reading stage in an important Commons vote on Friday December 3rd.
The Lighter Later campaign has moved one step closer as MPs, including Winchester & Chandler’s Ford MP Steve Brine, voted in favour of changing our clocks to Double Summer Time. This would mean we had the benefits of lighter evenings, and Steve joined groups such as the AA and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in backing the Bill.
The Coalition have not actually backed this Bill, so Steve had to rebel against the Government in order to see it through. You can view the Bill, on the Parliamentary website at http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/daylightsaving.html, where you can also see the further stages of the Bill’s progression.
Steve said: “It was not easy to get from Winchester to London today given the weather conditions but I was very glad I made it.
"This Bill is very positive in my view and deserves a chance to become law so we can enact the three year trial. We had a really good and lively debate on all sides and I was able to make the point that the energy and Co2 saving effects of a move to double summer time give an added urgency to it this time.”
There was concern earlier in the week as Steve and his family, including young William, were snowed in, and Steve was worried he would not be able to interrupt his paternity leave for this vital vote. Fortunately, he was able to battle through the conditions to make the Commons for early Friday morning.
Steve continued:"I will now work with my friend and colleague Rebecca Harris to get this through the Parliamentary minefield and finally onto the statute book."
Pictured; Colleagues in the House gave Steve and the family their warm congratulations at the birth of William, seen here helping Daddy catch up with his correspondence
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Find out more about the Lighter Later campaign via http://www.lighterlater.org/
You can view the Hansard record of the debate, including Steve’s contribution, by following