British Summer Time Rules
(from UK Government - Department of
Trade & Industry - DTi)
For 2003-2007 inclusive, the summer-time periods begin and end
respectively on the following dates at 1.00am Greenwich Mean Time:
In 2003: the Sundays of 30 March and
26 October
In 2004: the Sundays of 28 March and 31
October
In 2005: the Sundays of 27 March and 30 October
In 2006: the Sundays of 26 March and 29 October
In 2007: the Sundays of 25 March and 28 October
Since 1981 EC Directives have prescribed the
start and end dates of summer time in all Member States. There have
to date been eight Directives which have set summer-time
arrangements for fixed periods. The Summer Time Act 1972 sets the
appropriate dates in the UK and summer-time orders have been made as
necessary to implement the European Directives. The
9th EC Directive prescribes the start and end dates of summer
time as the last Sundays in March and October respectively. These
dates are in line with those already operating in the United
Kingdom. The 9th Directive provides that these start and end dates
should apply indefinitely.
Implementation of the 9th Directive in the UK
is through an Order in Council under section 2(2) of the European
Communities Act 1972, which amended the relevant sections of the
Summer Time Act 1972. The
Order came into force on 11 March 2002. A
Regulatory Impact Assessment and
Transposition Note were produced in conjunction with the laying
of the Order.
Proposals have been made from time to time about changing the
UK's time zone to Central European Time. However, any changes would
need to have full regard to the effect on business and transport
links with other countries, on health and safety issues such as road
traffic accidents, and on social and community life. Although there
could be some advantages, adoption of Central European Time in the
UK would result in later sunrise in winter, affecting particularly
outdoor workers and people in the north of England and Scotland.
There are no current plans to change the UK’s time zone.
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