HC Deb 05 August 1971 vol 822 c390W
Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the effect in terms of lost working days of raising the number of paid holidays for the average British worker from 16 days to 29 days and from 21 days to 47 days, respectively.

Mr. Bryan

The gross effect of increasing the number of paid holidays by 13 days and by 26 days for all those in civil employment in Great Britain at December, 1970, the latest available estimate, is about 310 million and 630 million days, respectively. Some of these days would be lost by part-time workers, some would have been lost in any event because of sickness and other reasons, and some of the lost time could be offset by increased overtime working.