Bank Holidays in 2002

The Bank Holidays Act of 1871 introduced four designated holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and five in Scotland. For England, Wales and Northern Ireland these were Easter Monday, the first Monday in August, the 26th December, and Whit Monday. For Scotland these were New Year's Day, Good Friday, the first Monday in May, the first Monday in August, and Christmas Day. Both Christmas Day and Good Friday were traditional days of rest and Christian worship in England, Wales and Northern Ireland so they did not need to be included in the Act. In Northern Ireland a special Act of Parliament in 1903 added St Patrick's Day on 17th March and the Governor of Northern Ireland added 'Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690' (Orangemen's Day) on 12 July in 1926.

Bank holidays designated since the 1971 Act are appointed each year by Royal Proclamation. The Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne bank holiday is proclaimed annually by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The 1871 Act was repealed 100 years later and its provisions incorporated into the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, which remains the statutory basis for bank holidays. The dates of bank holidays in Scotland are set out in Schedule I to the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 which does not require banks, or any other employer, to close on bank holidays. In Scotland public or local holidays are determined by local authorities (based on local tradition, without any statutory authority) after consultation with local business interests, in keeping with the Government's policy to avoid unnecessary regulation.

In 2002 there are special bank holiday arrangements. The Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday is on Monday 3rd June 2002 and the Spring Bank Holiday is on Tuesday 4th June 2002. This creates a 'long weekend' from Saturday 1st June through to Tuesday 4th June 2002. In 2002 the clocks change for Daylight Savings on the Sundays of 31st March and 27th October.