§ 4. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will review the dates of bank holidays, having consulted the religious, economic, European and other interests concerned.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerAs already announced, the Government intend to introduce a May Day bank holiday in 1978 and to designate days in lieu whenever a holiday falls at the weekend. We have no other plans to review the dates of bank holidays.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonDoes the Minister of State understand the concern felt in the Christian community in this country about the neglect over the allotment of holidays in respect of the great Christian festival of Whitsun? Will he consult religious bodies in this country when this review is undertaken?
§ Mr. WalkerI understand that Whit Monday ceased to be a bank holiday as long ago as 1967 and that there was an experimental run until 1971 to discover whether the Churches and others were satisfied with the shift of date. In 1971 there was found to be no reason to move 1500 it and we have had no suitable representations since to do so.
§ Dr. BrayWill my hon. Friend consider the vastly superior system of local holidays in Scotland when he is considering any increase in the number of public holidays in England?
§ Mr. WalkerI am not sure that there is a vastly superior number of statutory holidays in Scotland.
§ Mr. WalkerIn industry and commerce the majority of holidays are determined by collective bargaining.