I wouldn't get too excited about the Working Time Directive, there are just as many loopholes as you'll find in CAP371.
CAP371 is actually well within the WTD, the only 'grey' area is the 'week', which is why the CAA published the proposed amendment to move the limits to rolling 7 day periods etc.
Its the way CAP371 is implemented into the rosters which is the problem.
Anyway the government, and the rest of the EU, has until 1st Dec 2003 to implement the WTD for mobile workers within the civil aviation sector.
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/work_time_regs/exsectors.htm