Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

With this it is convenient to consider Government new clause 12—Interpretation etc —

“(1) References in this Act to advancing the time for general purposes in the United Kingdom by one hour are to making the time for general purposes in the United Kingdom—

(a) during the period of summer time (within the meaning of the Summer Time Act 1972), two hours in advance of Greenwich mean time, and

(b) at any other time, one hour in advance of Greenwich mean time.

(2) In this Act “appropriate national authority” means—

(a) the Scottish Ministers,

(b) the Welsh Ministers, or

(c) the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland.

(3) In this Act “relevant enactment” means—

(a) the Summer Time Act 1972,

(b) the Interpretation Act 1978,

(c) the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 12),

(d) the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Publication and Interpretation etc of Acts of the Scottish Parliament) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1379) (as it continues to have effect by virtue of section 55(2) of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010),

(e) the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33 (N.I.)), or

(f) any other enactment about—

(i) the time for general purposes in the United Kingdom or any part of the United Kingdom, or

(ii) the interpretation of references to the time.

(4) For the purposes of this section “enactment” includes—

(a) an enactment contained in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978),

(b) an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament,

(c) an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, Northern Ireland legislation, and

(d) an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, a Measure or

Act of the National Assembly for Wales.

(5) Orders under this Act are to be made by statutory instrument.

(6) Where an order under this Act is subject to “affirmative resolution procedure” the order may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(7) Where an order under this Act is subject to “negative resolution procedure” the statutory instrument containing it is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(8) A duty under this Act to publish a document may be complied with by publishing it on an internet site.’.

Original clause 4 and new clause 12 are about interpretation. New clause 12 defines the enactments that could be amended by a daylight saving order. Those are confined to enactments dealing with time for general purposes in any part of the United Kingdom, or the interpretation of references of time. The new clause also clarifies the fact that references to advance in time for the general purposes of the United Kingdom are to make it GMT+2 during summer time and GMT+1 for the rest of the time. In explaining what we are talking about in terms of interpretation, I hope that I have interpreted things correctly and that people feel the measure has been translated fully.

I am grateful to the Minister for explaining the measure. I note that in new clause 12 (1)(a) summer time is defined as being summer time within the meaning of the 1972 Act. There is no definition of Greenwich mean time. Will he help the Committee by saying whether Greenwich mean time is anywhere defined in statute, including the 1972 Act?

My hon. and learned Friend makes an interesting point, and I am fairly sure that the question will stretch the Government to answer immediately and urgently. The Government are pondering on that very thought as we speak, reflecting hard and trying to search the database of statutes, Acts, regulations and statutory instruments to see whether we can give him the answer he so richly deserves. He has clearly focused on the detail of the matter with the perceptive analysis that we have come to expect from him— [ Interruption. ] We will write to him.

Question put and negatived.

Clause 4 disagreed to.