Perks of French time

SIR – I support Lord Lee of Trafford in his efforts to have British clocks altered to French (Central European) time all year round, certainly in England and Wales (report, April 17).

Such an adjustment would help us all with rising utility costs, saving consumers hundreds of pounds in addition to major savings in fossil fuels.

The average time for rising is 7.15am, meaning that the majority have spent at least two hours in bed during daylight in the summer months. Lighter evenings bring benefits to all.

Also, this move might encourage more people to holiday in Britain instead of flying overseas, which would assist the economy.

Tony Wells

Sutton Coldfield

SIR – Lord Lee misses the point. Clock changes are disruptive. The EU has agreed in principle to abolish them and the United States has just done so. It is inevitable that Britain will follow suit – and the sooner the better.

Rodney Enderby

King’s Sutton, Northamptonshire

SIR – One reason put forward for not adopting French time is that farmers in Scotland would be forced to work in darkness for much of the morning.

I don’t get it. Farming has never been a nine-to-five occupation, and there is no reason for it to be bound by the hours on the clock.

Surely, if French time were adopted, a Scottish farmer would simply need to set their alarm one hour later.

Peter Harper

Lover, Wiltshire