Thursday's Letters: Shedding light on Double Summer Time plea

The basic problem is that on December 21 there is a difference of seven-and-a-half hours between the times of sunrise and sunset compared with 17 hours on Midsummer's Day.

Even at this time of the year, mornings are getting very gloomy, and if BST were not to be ended, we would have about three months of dark mornings – very depressing for those having to get up for work who would still be going home in the dark for a similar period if they work normal business hours.

Even schoolchildren would have gloomy conditions for going home in the two shortest months and, as a driver, I find that twilight is the worst time for visibility on the roads.

I, therefore, feel that GMT should remain for the winter months.

But why is it that we put the clocks back at the end of October, seven or eight weeks before the shortest day, yet do not return to BST until the end of March, a gap of some 14 weeks?

Surely it would be more sense to start BST at the end of February when both mornings and evenings are getting lighter and we all need a bit of a lift.

It would also be worth considering Double Summer Time from, say, the beginning of May to the end of August, thus getting the best of both worlds.

From: Brian Waddington, Dukes Wharf, Terry Avenue, York.

From: John Turley, Dronfield, Derbyshire.

IN his article, Greg Knight MP states that he wants to avoid the ridiculous ritual of putting the clocks back one hour at this time of year, which I can understand to a certain extent.

He then, however, completely contradicts himself by stating that he is in favour of Britain going on to Central European Time.

Firstly, Mr Knight, please explain to me why you consider it safer for children in winter to travel to school in the dark, and come home in daylight, than to make both journeys in daylight as at present?

Secondly, you claim that it will save energy. I would have thought that any savings in the evening would be more than offset by increased use on those dark mornings, heating and lighting accidentally left on all day, etc, whereas, at present, many houses "sit in the dark" for an hour or so on winter evenings before the occupants return home from work.

Thirdly, you try to claim that it is only a handful of Scots trying to impose their will on the majority, whereas it is you who is in the minority, based on what most people thought to staying on BST throughout the year, as happened for a trial period in the 1970s.

Examining ways to close health gap

From: Eamonn Ward, Sheffield Green Party.

A DAY after the cuts were announced, I attended a packed Equality Trust meeting on closing the health gap between poorer and richer areas in Sheffield.

Danny Dorling, Professor of Human Geography at the University of Sheffield, compared the Second World War to now.

Despite the threat of Nazi invasion, everyone had their role to play in one big team effort and the health of the population actually improved. In comparison, these cuts will leave many poor and vulnerable people without hope and there will be an inevitable impact on public health.

Inequality increased under 13 years of Labour government and the cuts won't help the 13.5 year life expectancy gap between the Ecclesall and Netherthorpe areas of Sheffield.

Huge cuts are not inevitable. They could have been avoided by alternative policies based on a fairer tax regime, cutting Trident nuclear missiles and investing in job-creating renewable technology.

Well-funded public services, jobs for all and a living wage are the foundations of a fair society. We need investment in job creation now. Not massive cuts, another recession and mass unemployment.

Reunion for shipmates

From: Mike Crowe, Heath Road, Sandown, Isle of Wight.

IT is with thanks to the readers of newspapers like this across the country, that many shipmates who served together, some as many as 50 years ago, are being reunited.

One of the most recent, a couple who served on HMS Hermes from 1968-1970, met again at our reunion in Stafford, and what a reunion it was, too, with more than 90 HM ships represented.

The next Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association reunion will be held in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, so the members can get some "sea time" in for another cracking weekend.

This is an appeal for any of your readers who served in the Royal Navy and had the distinctive lightning flashes on your branch badge; this is the place for you.

Or if you know someone, such as a relative or friend who is ex-RN Electrical, send them this letter (this is where the printed word is so successful, it can be read time and time again). Tell them to look at our regularly updated website www.rneba.org.uk or email me, [email protected] or write to Mike Crowe, 7 Heath Road, Lake, Sandown, Isle of Wight PO36 8PG.

Do it now or tell your friend to do it now, turn the clock back and relive the camaraderie of the Electrical Mess.

Thank you for printing this letter. The response is always very good from the printed word in newspapers.

Traitors in our midst

From: Tom Howley, Marston Way, Wetherby.

LONDON firefighters, defending working conditions and confident that their successful campaign will safeguard the vital service they provide, threaten to stop work for 24 hours.

Greedy City bankers threaten to take their "talents" out of the country for ever if the Government dares to attack their obscene bonus packages.

Who are the traitors in our midst?

Cautious welcome for pledge to uprate pensions

From: Malcolm Naylor, Grange View, Otley.

IT was surprising to hear the Government proposing universal pensions without means testing.

It would, however, be more convincing if the principle of universality was applied to all benefits in conjunction with a maximum income to balance a minimum wage.

Why is there this selectivity to means-testing and why not abolish it altogether? Surely means-testing care for the elderly and disabled, education and children's allowances are just as worthy? The only means- testing that is required is the one that is already tried and tested. Income tax.

It is interesting to see the arguments being trotted out now to support this proposal, such as the simplification and elimination of bureaucracy and its cost neutrality.

If all income, including benefits, were regarded as taxable income, this would iron out payments to the wealthy without additional complications.

The sincerity of the proposal has also to be judged against the timing of its possible implementation – right next to the next election. So the question is, will it happen at all and is this not just another vote-grabbing ploy?

But, whatever, it is a great to know it is at least on the agenda and something to which the public should give its wholehearted support.

From: Ken Holmes, Cliffe Common, Selby.

IT doesn't matter which government rules the day, they appear to be all tarred with the same brush. The previous regime was all "education, education, education". Now all we are getting is "promises, promises, promises".

It is insulting and annoying when governments have the audacity to tell the likes of me, not a "kick in the pants" short of 80, that we are in for an increase in the state pension in 2015 (election year).

Can't they realise that we golden oldies need a bit of marmalade on our toast today, not in five years' time?

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Littlefield Lane, Grimsby.

THE Con-Dem plans for a basic state pension are, to my mind, the most cynical yet, going against their spending cut mantra of "we are all in it together" in order to try to win the votes of older people, that sector of the electorate most likely to vote.

But I'd like to see the small print first. Let's not forget people will be having to work longer in order to get this extra money. This is particularly true of poorer pensioners, who won't – if the measure goes through – be that much better off than they are under Pension Credit.

Police cuts do not make sense

From: John Eoin Douglas, Spey Terrace, Edinburgh.

THE Con-Dem Government has taken leave of its senses by intending to significantly cut expenditure on policing.

Do they not realise that a much thicker "thin blue line" will be needed to keep the lid on all the social unrest and crime caused by the high unemployment levels which will be a natural consequence of their other policies? This is something that Mrs Thatcher well understood.

Policing costs can be better contained by instructing forces to eschew expensive and prestigious inquiries into historic crimes which all too often result only in the conviction of those, such as Peter Tobin, who are already rightly incarcerated for life.

Job sharing is better than dole

From: Ernest Witt, Wrenbury Grove, Leeds.

AM I naive in believing that a majority of those who are to lose their jobs would welcome the alternative offer of job sharing, where practical?

Surely, half salary would be infinitely better than total unemployment, with all the demoralisation it involves?

Those choosing to do so would be better off on half salary than unemployment benefit, the employers save redundancy payments, work experience is retained as is association with the employee – invaluable in the event of improvements in the job situation.

While on the subject, with the enormous number of job losses forecast in the public sector, can we assume that the huge cost savings by the councils will lead to similar reductions in council tax? This would help the economy, leaving more in the hands of people to spend.

Tax on banks will raise 20bn

From: Richard Bettie, North Grange Road, Leeds.

I KNOW we are in difficult economic times, but there is one easy decision that could spare a lot of the tough ones.

A tax on the banks could raise 20bn in the UK to help those hit by the financial crisis in this country and around the world. For every cut I hear the Government announce, I keep asking: could a tax on the banks have paid for that?

The situation we find ourselves in started in the financial sector and we spent 1.4 trillion bailing them out.

We are all paying for a party we weren't quite invited to. I want to see my MP and leaders start fighting for a tax that would make Robin Hood proud.