CROSS-PARTY talks could be held on Britain adopting European time to extend summer evenings and give tourism a multi-million-pound boost.

Tory shadow tourism minister Tobias Ellwood has written to his Labour and Liberal Democrat counterparts in the hope of securing cross-party consensus on the issue.

Supporters claim moving to Double Summer Time – with GMT + one hour in winter and GMT + two hours in summer – would bring environmental, road safety and health benefits.

Tourism leaders believe it could be worth £3.5 billion a year to the economy, with 80,000 new jobs created, because attractions would be able to stay open later.

The Prime Minister last month told Western Morning News readers that the issue was under review and could produce "real" economic benefits. He said the proposal was "worthy of consideration" and he had been "thinking carefully" about the switch.

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Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP for Exeter, has described the move as "a no-brainer".

Now Mr Ellwood has said he wants to establish a cross-party group, in particular to look at the impact on people in Scotland, who would endure even darker mornings.

"With an ever-growing list of organisations either supportive or no longer opposed to the idea, I welcome the opportunity to work with my Parliamentary colleagues to see if we can find common ground," he said.

Liberal Democrat tourism spokesman Don Foster said he looked forward to trying to establish cross-party co-operation. Tourism minister Margaret Hodge has also expressed support.

An event discussing the idea was held at Exeter University yesterday.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said ministers had held talks with the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers, and Attractions and other tourism industry leaders about the potential benefits of making changes to British Summer Time. However, Lord Mandelson's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills – the lead policy department on BST – is less keen.

A spokesman said: "We know British Summer Time is a subject where people have differing views. While the current arrangement is not being changed, we continue to listen to those views and any evidence when it is presented to us."