British Summer Time (BST)

What is British Summer Time (BST)?

British Summer Time marks the beginning and the end of the official summer season.

BST is calculated by putting Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) forward one hour at the start of the period and removing one hour at the end.

The purpose of the shift is to make maximum use of daylight hours, principally to maximise commercial efficiency. The idea was first introduced to save on fuel costs by increasing the working hours available in daylight.


Background

BST was first given a statutory footing in the UK through the Summertime Act 1916, and has undergone a number of changes since, principally because of periods of conflict and European guidance.

The Summertime Act 1972 sets out the current method of calculation. It followed a trial period from 1968-71 of equalising GMT with Central European Time (CET).

However, since 1981 EC Directives have prescribed the start and end dates of summer time in all Member States, and consequently Orders have been made in the UK to implement the new requirements.

In 2002 the British Summer Time Order amended the 1972 Act to permanently harmonise the BST dates in the UK with the rest of Europe.


Controversies

The use of BST and the way it is calculated are both controversial for a number of reasons.

Firstly, some believe the system increases the number of accidents, both because of the loss of sleep when the clocks go forward and, conversely, the lack of sunlight in the evenings contributing to more accidents.

Therefore, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) has been calling for 'single-double summer time', which would add two hours instead of one and result in darker mornings and lighter evenings. The proposals would equalise GMT with Central European Time.

This method was piloted between 1968 and 1971, and some findings estimated 2,500 deaths and serious injuries occurred each year as a result. However, Government research revealed public support for the measure to be adopted. Rospa claims that recent research reveals the adoption of single-double summer time would result in 450 less road deaths and serious injuries.

However, the proposals were heavily defeated by MPs, with particular lobbying from agricultural groups and Scottish farmers, who warned of a reduction in working hours and claimed the switch would have a detrimental effect on their livestock, who would be unable to adjust to the change. Indeed, there is a marked polarisation of views on the matter between Scotland and England and some have suggested that Scotland should operate on a separate time zone to the UK in order to facilitate a change.


Statistics

There have to date been eight Directives which have set summer-time arrangements for fixed periods

In 2007, BST ends on Sunday October 27.

Following publication of a Government green paper on BST reform, 59 per cent of letters and 100 per cent of petitions in England and Wales supported single-double summer time, compared with 90 per cent of letters and 80 per cent of signatories in Scotland who supported keeping the status quo

Statistics 1: (Source: Department of Trade and Industry, 2004); Statistic 3: (Source: Rospa SDST position paper, 2003)


Quotes

"The Government considers the change made under this Directive a positive benefit to business as it gives certainty to the summer time dates and aids the business planning process."

British Summer Time - Regulatory Impact Assessment 2001

"The period of summer time for the purposes of this Act is the period beginning at one o'clock, Greenwich mean time, in the morning of the last Sunday in March and ending at one o'clock, Greenwich mean time, in the morning of the last Sunday in October."

The Summer Time Order 2002