HC Deb 27 July 1976 vol 916 cc161-2W
Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement about the arrangements for days in lieu of Christmas Day 1976 and New Year's Day 1977 and about the day or date which will be designated for the May Day bank holiday in 1978.

Mr. Booth

The May Day holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be taken on Monday 1st May in 1978. The arrangements in Scotland, where the first Monday in May is already observed as a bank holiday, are under separate consideration. Further statements will be made in due course about the arrangements which will apply in 1979 and subsequent years.

Following the consultations announced by my predecessor on 30th March—[Vol. 908, c. 442–3]—Tuesday 28th December 1976 will be designated as a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, in substitution for Christmas Day; similarly Monday 3rd January 1977, not New Year's Day itself, which falls on a Saturday, will be designated as bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, Monday 27th December will be taken as a bank holiday in place of Boxing Day.

In Scotland, where by tradition public holidays are arranged on a local basis and bank holidays are not necessarily observed as general public holidays, Monday 27th December 1976 and Tuesday 4th January 1977 will be designated as bank holidays in substitution for Christmas Day and New Year's Day respectively; similarly Tuesday 28th December 1976, not Boxing Day itself, which falls on a Sunday, will be designated as a bank holiday. Under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, Monday 3rd January 1977 will be taken as a bank holiday in place of 2nd January.

The designation of the substitute bank holidays in any part of the United Kingdom does not override and is not intended to interfere with alternative holiday arrangements made between employers and employees which are consistent with the pay policy—for example, in those sectors with special needs and those in which employees normally work on Saturdays.

The Government will make legislative provision in due course to cover the future arrangements which will be made for a holiday to be taken in lieu whenever a bank holiday or public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday where it is not already provided for under the 1971 Act.