§ 8. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions Her Majesty's Government held with the British Council of Churches with a view to establishing a fixed Easter Bank Holiday and a fixed Spring Bank Holiday at Whitsun; what information he has now received from the World Council of Churches and the British Council of Churches; what further initiative Her Majesty's Government proposes to take either through the United Nations or other organisations; and if he will publish a White Paper.
§ Mr. EnnalsAt the suggestion of the Government of the day, the British Council of Churches raised the issue of a fixed Easter with the World Council of Churches in 1964. Replies, most of them favourable, have been received from more than half of its member churches. Further consultation is now to be carried out by a study group of the World Council and a report prepared. If Easter518W could be fixed it would be for consideration whether the spring bank holiday should fall at Whitsuntide.