§ Mr. Cantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of manual workers, and in which industries, do not get three weeks paid holiday annually.
§ Mr. BryanThe Department's estimates are based on terms laid down in national collective agreements and statutory wages regulation orders. From these it is estimated that about 40 per cent. of manual workers have a minimum entitlement of less than three weeks paid annual holiday (exclusive of public holidays). In fact, the percentage actually getting less than three weeks will be somewhat lower. Some workers will be entitled to additional days because of long service (about a quarter of manual workers are employed in industries where there is provision for such additional days). Other workers may be covered by plant agreements which allow additional days.
Details of the minimum holiday entitle. ments of manual workers in different industries are published as an appendix to the annual publication "Time Rates of Wages and Hours of Work". I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the most recent appendix, which relates to April, 1970, together with a list of changes since that date.
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§ Mr. Cantasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish an estimate of the cost to British industry of an increase in the present level of paid holidays of manual workers in industry to four weeks at normal rates of pay.
§ Mr. Cantasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish an estimate of the cost to British industry of the adoption of the principle of permitting manual workers a free choice of holiday dates, as against the practice of plant closure.