HC Deb 24 June 1902 vol 109 c1521
SIR CHARLES DILKE

Will a new Royal Proclamation be issued with regard to the Bank Holidays?

MR. A. J BALFOUR

I should not like to make a definite statement on that point, but I have had some conversation with my right hon. friend the Home Secretary, and I think that there can be no doubt that the public holidays will stand. The difficulty of making a change, even if a change could be made without legislation, is so great that I think the public holidays must stand.

SIR CHARLES DILKE

Is not that a very strong reason for not sitting on those days?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

As the right hon. Baronet is aware, the House has always sat on Lank Holidays unless they fall in with our arrangements of the ordinary holidays. We always sit on the first Monday in August.