§ Mr. Joplingasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the towns in England and Wales where his offices were shut on New Year's Day; which of them have begun a practice of closing on New Year's Day during the last four years; and which offices had a third day's holiday during Christmas week.
§ Mr. ReynoldsThe rules for the grant of leave for civil servants in England and Wales make no provision for closure on New Year's Day. Staff are granted a privilege day at Christmas in addition to Christmas Day and Boxing Day, subject to the convenience of the public service. Local managements other than at headquarters have discretion to decide when the staff shall take this leave. To ascertain which offices outside of headquarters closed completely for three days at Christmas would require a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.