§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated effect upon industrial production if the number of public holidays in Great Britain was raised from six to the average of 11 in the European Economic Community; and what would be the number of working days lost calculated on the same basis as industrial disputes.
§ Mr. BryanIt is not practicable to assess the effect on production in this country of five additional days of public holiday, but such an increase would represent a loss of something of the order of 100 million working days.
§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, if Great Britain joins the Common Market, it will be the policy of the Government that employers should fall into line with the European Economic Community employers and increase the average number of days of paid holiday for industrial workers from between 16 and 21 days to the European Economic Community average of between 27 and 35 days; what estimated effect this will have upon industrial production; and what will be the number of working days lost, calculated on the same basis as industrial disputes.
§ Mr. BryanThere is no obligation on Community members to harmonise the provision of paid holidays, which in the United Kingdom is a matter for negotiations between employers and employees.
§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, if Great Britain joins the European Economic Community, it is the Government's intention to raise the number of public holidays from six to the European Economic Community average of 11.