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BRITISH
SUMMER TIME
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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