Coordinated Universal Time Bill [H.L.]

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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Other Bills before Parliament

Coordinated Universal Time Bill [H.L.]

This is the text of the Coordinated Universal Time [H.L.] Bill, as passed by the House of Lords and introduced in the House of Commons on 14 July 1997.

Coordinated Universal Time Bill [H.L.]

ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES

Clause

1. References to time of day in Acts to be references to Coordinated Universal Time.

2. Summer Time.

3. Short title, commencement and extent.

A
B I L L

INTITULED
An Act to amend the Interpretation Act 1978, the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 and the Summer Time Act 1972 to make provision for the use of Coordinated Universal Time.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

References to time of day in Acts to be references to Coordinated Universal Time.     1. - (1) In section 9 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (references to time of day)-

(a) for "Greenwich mean time" there shall be substituted "Coordinated Universal Time", and

(b) at the end there shall be added-

    "(2) In this section "Coordinated Universal Time" means the time scale maintained by the National Physical Laboratory and known as UTC (NPL).

    (3) The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument amend subsection (2) above.

    (4) A statutory instrument containing an order under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament."

    (2) In section 39 of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (references to time)-

(a) in subsection (1) for "Greenwich mean time", in each place it occurs, there shall be substituted "Coordinated Universal Time", and

(b) after that subsection there shall be inserted-

    "(1A) In subsection (1) above "Coordinated Universal Time" means the time scale maintained by the National Physical Laboratory and known as UTC (NPL).

    (1B) The Secretary of State may by order amend subsection (1A) above.

    (1C) An order under subsection (1B) above shall be subject to negative resolution."

Summer Time.     2. - (1) The Summer Time Act 1972 shall be amended as follows.

    (2) In section 1 (advance of time during period of summer time) for "Greenwich mean time", in each place it occurs, there shall be substituted "Coordinated Universal Time".

    (3) In section 2 (extension of period, and double summer time), in subsection (1)(b) for "Greenwich mean time" there shall be substituted "Coordinated Universal Time".

    (4) In section 3 (interpretation of references) for "Greenwich mean time" there shall be substituted "Coordinated Universal Time or any other time scale".

    (5) After section 3 there shall be inserted-

"Meaning of "Coordinated Universal Time".     3A. In this Act "Coordinated Universal Time" has the same meaning as in section 9 of the Interpretation Act 1978."

Short title, commencement and extent.     3. - (1) This Act may be cited as the Coordinated Universal Time Act 1997.

    (2) This Act shall come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which it is passed.

    (3) This Act shall apply to Northern Ireland.

    (4) The reference in section 5(1) of the Summer Time Act 1972 (application of Summer Time Act 1972 to Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man) to that Act shall be construed as a reference to that Act as amended by section 2 above.

© Parliamentary copyright 1997
Prepared 15 July 1997