The Balearic parliament wants more daylight in winter. | Alexandra Wey, EFE

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All parties in the Balearic parliament today approved an "institutional declaration" which calls for maintaining summertime and not turning the clocks back an hour in autumn.

The Balearics is the area of Spain most affected by the change to the clocks. It is the part of the country where the sun rises the earliest and then sets the earliest. For this reason, national government is being requested to maintain summertime.

Parliament has therefore backed the movement Illes amb Claror which opposes the hour's change on account of the Balearics geographical location. By sticking to solar time, it maintains, there will be less energy consumed and more time to enjoy daylight.

The Majorca Restaurants Association is backing parliament's declaration "one hundred per cent". Its president, Alfonso Robledo, says that not changing the clocks would allow an extension to the tourist season. "It is necessary to work twelve months a year with more hours of sun."

The national ministry for industry, energy and tourism points out that the Balearics cannot unilaterally modify the time. The hour's change is regulated by a European Union directive. The ministry adds that the consequences of not turning the clocks back are unknown.

The clocks are set to go back an hour at 03.00 this Sunday (30 October).