NPL does not play any part in setting summer time policy or dates, or in enacting legislation - this is the responsibility of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Responsibility for summer time legislation in the UK passed from the Home Office to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 2001, and from the DTI to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) in 2007.

The summer time dates up to year 2011 have been set by an EU Directive and are now implemented in the UK through an Order in Council. More information can be obtained from the Government's website. Since 22 October 1995, summer time has started and ended at the same instant in all EU member states, and in many other European countries. Since 1996, these dates have been presented as 'the last Sundays in March, and October'. This can be a useful rule of thumb and the dates for subsequent years can be remembered in this manner. For summer time dates and times from 2006 to 2001 inclusive, please click here.

The Home Office 'green paper' "Summer Time: A Consultation Document", June 1989 (HMSO Cm 722) sets out some history and current issues concerning the choice of summer time dates and time zone for the UK, but please note that there are some errors in the dates quoted in Appendix A of that document.