I was pleased to read that the US Senate has approved measures so Americans can have more sunlight in the evenings (‘No more switching clocks’: Senate passes act to make daylight saving time permanent, 16 March).
This has been discussed on numerous occasions in the UK; indeed a private member’s bill some years ago from the Conservative MP Rebecca Harris failed through lack of time.
The benefits of the UK moving forward by an hour are numerous, apart from the considerable advantage to businesses of having the same times as most of western Europe.
Longer, lighter evenings will provide more leisure opportunities and a healthier lifestyle as more people are likely to cycle or walk in the evenings.
There will be fewer times when children are walking or cycling back home from school in the dark. Furthermore, there are likely to be reductions in household fuel consumption. Such savings will help the economy and our efforts to tackle climate change.
Mike Parker
Witney, Oxfordshire
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