Bank Holiday in Scotland on 2 Jan

boingy

I'm loving this thread. For me it falls very firmly into the category of "Fascinating stuff I have never thought about". 

blue.peter

flaneurs_lobster said:

No longer true in Scotland (the definition of bank holidays, not that they differ geographically). The setting of Bank Holidays is a devolved power.

In this case, that power is exercised by amending the relevant UK legislation. That amendment to the 1971 Act regarding St Andrew's Day? The Act that added the amendment - St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007 - was an Act of the Scottish Parliament. So the legislation that defines bank holidays in Scotland is still the 1971 Westminster Act that I quoted, but it now incorporates amendments made in Holyrood.

Fun, isn't it?

blue.peter

Nebulous2 said:

 It's interesting that your list doesn't have boxing day for Scotland, whereas the Scottish government list that Flaneurs posted does. 

I hadn't noticed that - largely because I didn't look at the Scottish BH list referred to

I must say that I'm a little surprised that it's there. For as long as I can remember, it's been the case that Boxing Day was a bank holiday in E&W but not Scotland and vice versa for 2 January. My guess is that it's listed because of the point made earlier about Scottish banks following English bank holidays. Still odd to describe it as an "Upcoming [ugh!] bank holiday in Scotland", when it isn't, though.

Nebulous2

boingy said:

I'm loving this thread. For me it falls very firmly into the category of "Fascinating stuff I have never thought about". 

I worked for a large charity in the care sector, which had a presence across most of Scotland. We were divided into 3 regions. There are 32 local authorities in Scotland, each with the ability to set their own local holidays. Our staff had 12 public holidays a year. 8 of these are simple, as they are national / uncontroversial ones. I had the responsibility of choosing the additional ones - that were required to be the same across our region, regardless of which local authority staff actually worked in. 

As I'm sure you can imagine - it went from stuff I had never thought about, to stuff I had to consider carefully, and be ready to justify when challenged. I tried to argue it was an HR task, but they were having none of it!  

blue.peter

Nebulous2 said:

boingy said:

I'm loving this thread. For me it falls very firmly into the category of "Fascinating stuff I have never thought about". 

I worked for a large charity in the care sector, which had a presence across most of Scotland. We were divided into 3 regions. There are 32 local authorities in Scotland, each with the ability to set their own local holidays. Our staff had 12 public holidays a year. 8 of these are simple, as they are national / uncontroversial ones. I had the responsibility of choosing the additional ones - that were required to be the same across our region, regardless of which local authority staff actually worked in. 

As I'm sure you can imagine - it went from stuff I had never thought about, to stuff I had to consider carefully, and be ready to justify when challenged. I tried to argue it was an HR task, but they were having none of it!  

And my knowledge is also work-related. I used to work for a large insurance company. One of my jobs was drafting pensions insurance policies and scheme governing documents. Inter alia, I had to be very careful in describing days when things did/didn't/couldn't happen.

(I'm now retired.)

[Deleted User]

Contador38 said:

I have bank transfers scheduled on 2 Jan 24 from my Bank of Scotland Accounts to my HSBC and TSB accounts in England. My BOS bank is in Edinburgh.
I wonder whether these transfers will be delayed until 3 Jan with my English accounts subsequently getting into overdrafts.
I cannot remember what happens last year.
Anybody knows what will happen ?
Thanks

Strictly speaking TSB is a Scottish bank and BOS operates a chunk of accounts under the Halifax brand. Even HSBC operates a small number of Scottish branches - all three operate to English bank holidays for processing purposes.

Edi81

Both TSB and BoS (including Halifax which is just a brand of BoS) are registered in Scotland. But all settlements go via the Bank of England which is open for processing on the 2nd. 

Many years ago Scottish banks had their own clearing system for cheques but that’s gone now.
bank branches in Scotland will be closed on the 2nd as its a statutory holiday but lots of offices that work to English times will be open (staff will
get to take their bank holiday off later) 

born_again

Bank Holiday is a archaic out of date statement.

Most banks are open in certain departments on these (Public) holidays. Worked more than enough of them.

For example 1st Direct are open 24/7/365/6 But ring up on the 2nd Jan & Hamilton will be shut as they get that day off. Rest of staff will be working.

TBH now, there is no reason that payments could be made everyday of the year, given it is all computerised, who do not need holidays 😶‍🌫️

sheramber

Nebulous2 said:

blue.peter said:

Nebulous2 said:

There is a distinction between bank holidays and public holidays. Bank holidays in Scotland follow the rest of the UK now, whereas the public holidays vary quite a bit even within Scotland. Chunks of Scotland celebrate Victoria day for instance, and parts of Scotland aren't even aware it exists. 

Sorry, but this is not correct. Bank holidays do vary geographically. The following text is quoted from the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, which defines bank holidays:

SCHEDULE 1 U.K.
BANK HOLIDAYS
1
The following are to be bank holidays in England and Wales:—
Easter Monday.
The last Monday in May.
The last Monday in August.
26th December, if it be not a Sunday.
27th December in a year in which 25th or 26th December is a Sunday.

2
The following are to be bank holidays in Scotland:—
New Year’s Day, if it be not a Sunday or, if it be a Sunday, 3rd January.
2nd January, if it be not a Sunday or, if it be a Sunday, 3rd January.
Good Friday.
The first Monday in May.
The first Monday in August.
[30th November, if it is not a Saturday or Sunday or, if it is a Saturday or Sunday, the first Monday following that day.] Text in square brackets inserted by the St Andrews Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007.
Christmas Day, if it be not a Sunday or, if it be a Sunday, 26th December.

So 2 January is a bank holiday in Scotland, but not in England or Wales.

The distinction between bank holidays and public holidays (at least in England) is historical. You'll see from the text quoted above that Christmas Day and Good Friday are not bank holidays in E&W. However, they are public holidays. This is because they were already traditional holidays when the concept of bank holidays was introduced by the Bank Holidays Act 1871. It was not (and still is not) considered necessary to give them the status of bank holidays. (However, they are bank holidays in Scotland.)

I know nothing about Victoria Day celebrations to which you refer, and accept that this might well be an informal public holiday in some areas.

Okay - as per flaneurs_lobster above. It's a bank holiday, but not a holiday for banks. These have become standardised for business purposes.

Local holidays in Scotland varied quite a bit, part of the idea being that towns would get trade from another town's occupants on local holidays and that would be reciprocated when you had your one. 

Victoria day was for Queen Victoria's birthday and has persisted in parts of the East Coast of Scotland. Victoria Day (Scotland) - Wikipedia  

Public sector workers get 10 or 12 public holidays, only 8 or so that are official ones and the rest that are agreed locally. Individual councils make their own arrangements.  It's interesting that your list doesn't have boxing day for Scotland, whereas the Scottish government list that Flaneurs posted does. 

"If we do'lt get a hoiday for the Queen's Birthday we'll all run away"ay, 

Mining areas had the Miner's Gala Day, which is first Monday in June.
Traditionally the miners got that day off and attended galas.

steven141

born_again said:

Bank Holiday is a archaic out of date statement.

Most banks are open in certain departments on these (Public) holidays. Worked more than enough of them.

For example 1st Direct are open 24/7/365/6 But ring up on the 2nd Jan & Hamilton will be shut as they get that day off. Rest of staff will be working.

TBH now, there is no reason that payments could be made everyday of the year, given it is all computerised, who do not need holidays 😶‍🌫️

I agree, the banks make such a big thing about people using online banking and the app as it’s 24/7 but then they close at weekends and bank holidays. It’s ridiculous and should be automatic.