UK Millennium Bank Holiday

Extra Day off to see in Year 2000

Millions of people across the United Kingdom will have an extra Bank Holiday on New Year's Eve 1999, UK Culture Secretary Chris Smith announced on 3 June 1998.  As well as marking the beginning of the year 2000, the Bank Holiday will give the public a chance to start their New Year's celebrations early.

In a written answer to a Parliamentary Question from Judy Mallaber, MP (Amber Valley), Mr. Smith said:

" I am pleased to announce that the year 2000 will be heralded by a one-off additional Bank Holiday throughout the United Kingdom on Friday, 31 December 1999. A recent consultation exercise conducted by the Government has confirmed that this decision commands overwhelming support among the many organisations which responded and I know that large numbers of people will welcome this opportunity to prepare for the festivities on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day 2000."

Bank Holiday Notes

1. Bank Holidays are prescribed in schedule 1 to the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. Powers under Section 1 of the Act enable The Queen to appoint substitute or special bank holidays in any one year by Royal Proclamation.

2. The UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced in June 1997 that the Government favoured an additional holiday on 31 December 1999 to reflect the special significance of the year 2000 in the consciousness of the public, and to allow people time to prepare for the celebrations.

3. The announcement was followed by a period of consultation in early 1998, during which key organisations representing local government, the Churches, emergency services and the financial, business and transport sectors were invited to express their views of the Government's proposal. Some 85% of the organisations consulted agreed with the proposal. The UK Government has therefore decided to proceed with the additional holiday on New Year's Eve 1999. This date is expected to be included in The Queen's annual Proclamation of Bank Holidays, in June 1999. The holiday will apply throughout the United Kingdom.

4. In the United Kingdom, Bank Holidays are not prescriptive and their observance is a matter for employers and employees. Any right to time off or pay on Bank Holidays therefore depends on the terms and conditions of an employee's contract of employment.