§ 2.48 p.m.
§ Viscount DAVIDSONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government who decided that there should be a public holiday on the 1st May this year; whether in retrospect they consider the decision to have been a wise one; and what are their plans for 1979.
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYMy Lords, the Government announced in 1976 that a May Day bank holiday would be introduced from 1978. It was announced on 28th July last year that the first Monday in May would be designated as the May Day bank holiday in 1979 and subsequent years except in Scotland, where it was announced that the last Monday in May would be designated. Of course it was a wise decision.
§ Viscount DAVIDSONMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for that informative Answer. Would he not agree that, since 1st May is Labour Day, it is possibly not the right day for a public holiday, and to the general public it seems that this Government have tried to impose their political ideology in this manner, which is not a good thing?
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYMy Lords, with due respect to the noble Viscount, that is really going too far. In point of fact, many countries have delebrated May Day for some considerable time. The United States, which I understand is not Communist, of course instituted Labour Day many years ago. In addition the Christian Church, above 785 all people, have for many centuries celebrated the 1st May as the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker; so we are in very respectable company.
§ Lord MACKIE of BENSHIEMy Lords, could it be that the Government are ashamed of their political reasons for this?
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYNo, my Lords; the Government are not ashamed of their political reasons and, with respect, that has nothing whatever to do with the Question. The only thing that marred May Day this year was the rain; and the Government, even with the support of the Liberal Party, are unable to control the elements.
§ Lord ROBBINSMy Lords, I have a relevant question to ask. Leaving ideological matters entirely on one side, is it not a pity that three bank holidays should be so closely bunched together in the spring and at the beginning of the summer?
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYThat could apply to a number of countries which have more bank holidays than we do, my Lords. It was unfortunate that Easter was rather early this year; otherwise I do not think it is a pity and, if the weather is decent, it gives a lot of busy people an opportunity to get some recreation, including gardening which I recommend to noble Lords.
§ Baroness GAITSKELLMy Lords, should we not welcome any holiday for whatever reason, remembering that this country has fewer holidays than any other European country?
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, is the Minister aware that this is not actually a bank holiday. Bank holidays must go through a certain Parliamentary procedure, I believe; this has been declared a public holiday.
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYThat is so, my Lords, and in some industries it is negotiable to have it on another day. That can be done because some firms may find it highly inconvenient to have their workers away on that day. It is negotiable, but it is a public holiday.
§ Lord MURRAY of GRAVESENDMy Lords, would my noble friend agree that May Day was celebrated in this country by the peasants hundreds of years before the birth of Karl Marx, and that among those who celebrate Labour Day are Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Turkey and Sweden, none of which could be described as an absolutely Communist country?
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYYes, my Lords, and I suggest that noble peasants enjoyed this bank holiday, too. It was unfortunate that the weather rather upset it.
§ Lord ALPORTMy Lords, if the Government intend to continue with May Day as a bank holiday, will they arrange for there to be better weather on this day in the years to come?
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYMy Lords, I have already said the Government are unable to control the weather. It is true that we appointed a Minister of Drought, and immediately this Chamber was nearly flooded and it would appear to have rained ever since; but I think that was divine providence rather than the efforts of my right honourable friend.
§ Lord ORR-EWINGMy Lords, does the—
§ Lord PEARTMy Lords, I suggest we proceed to the next Question.
Several noble Lords: No!
§ Lord ORR-EWINGMy Lords, does the Minister realise that, whatever he may say, there are large sections of the public who believe that this bank holiday has very strong political connotations? Would it not have been wiser to have consulted other Parties as to what would be a suitable day and a suitable cause for celebration? Will he also bear in mind that the argument that we have fewer bank holidays is offset by the fact that the productivity in almost all other free countries is very much higher when people are working?
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYMy Lords, this was announced by the Government and there was ample time and 787 opportunity to discuss it. With respect, I apprehend a little pre-Election neurosis involved in this Question.
§ Lord DAVIES of LEEKThey are a bunch of curmudgeons, my Lords.