§ Mr. Joplingasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs 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. Frederick LeeThe Department of Economic Affairs' office in Newcastle was closed on New Year's Day as an alternative to closing for a third day during Christmas week. Apart from this none of the Department's offices has ever closed on New Year's Day but all my right hon. Friend's staff, like other civil servants, have a third day's holiday in addition to Christmas Day and Boxing Day.