MR. WALLACE (Edinburgh)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, whether, in the event of Christmas Day and New Year's Day falling due on Sunday, the statutory public holidays in Scotland are held on the Mondays following; and, if so, why Monday, 26th December, was not recognised as Christmas holiday in Scotland last year?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonIn Scotland, as in England and Ireland, six public holidays are observed by the Post Office. In England and Ireland these days are Christmas Day and Good Friday, and four Bank Holidays. In Scotland they are Christmas Day and New Year's Day, or January 2nd when New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, and 673 other days not exceeding four proclaimed by the public authorities. At offices in Scotland where the staff had not already received four holidays corresponding to the four Bank Holidays in England and Ireland, Monday, December 26th, was counted as a Public Holiday, and paid for extra at the authorised rate. But at offices where the staff had already received four such holidays, Monday, December 26th, was treated as an ordinary day. Under any other arrangement the staff in Scotland would have received more favourable treatment than the staff in other parts of the United Kingdom.