1.
GVs: Madrid, Spain street scene at night (2 shots)
0.13

2.
SV: clock changing to 2100 hours.
0.18

3.
CU: shop window with lights on
0.22

4.
SCU: man pushing switches.
0.30

5.
SV: shop window lights going off.
0.43

6.
CU: House light going off.
0.48

7.
CU: TV set going off
0.51

8.
SVs: cinema billboard being switched off and people walking in darkened streets. (2 shots)
1.00

9.
GV: traffic through city during darkness
1.10


The outlawed Workers Commissions has called for a nation-wide general strike of 24 hours to protest against the austerity measures, which they said constituted a declaration of war against workers.




Initials RH/MF/AW/1622



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Spain's growing balance of payments problem has led to increasing darkness throughout the country.

SYNOPSIS: For as part of its austerity programme to cut the amount of overseas spending, the Spanish Government has cut the amount of on-essential lighting that can be used. At nine o'clock every night from Monday onwards, non-essential lighting like advertising signs and shop window displays must be turned off.

The Government hopes that the reduced use of electricity will cut the amount of imported oil needed, thus reducing the balance of payments deficit. Road speed limits have also been lowered to reduce petrol consumption. Under the austerity programme, excessive users of domestic power will also be penalized, through higher charges for electricity.

Spanish television has also been affected, with programmes having to finish at half-past eleven every night. The austerity moves also include economic measures like a two-month price freeze, greater freedom for employers to sack workers, and the forbidding of shorter working hours for the same pay. They have received little support from Spanish opposition parties.