SERA is not the problem as it retains a degree of flexibility. The inflexible legislation is, as usual, in the ineptly drafted Part-FCL, which states that a pilot may not fly under IFR unless he/she holds an instrument rating. Consequently, from 8 April 2012, the night qualification becomes useless in the UK (except when flying under SVFR) unless the pilot also holds a valid IR. I have as yet discovered no indication that the UK has even considered the implications of this particular piece of €urostupidity.