§ 40. Mr. Tilneyasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will propose that Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day be official public holidays throughout the United Kingdom.
§ 41. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now declare New Year's Day and May Day to be national holidays to bring Great Britain nearer to the number of annual holidays in other EEC countries.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkChristmas Day and Boxing Day are already observed as holidays and no change is called for.
Representations have been received from the TUC that there should be additional public holidays on 1st January and 70W 1st May. These representations are under consideration but no decision has yet been reached.
There is no requirement for EEC countries to harmonise their holiday arrangements.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of statutory holidays in the EEC countries and the average holiday period for industrial workers with the comparative figures in Great Britain.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkThe following public holidays in member countries of the EEC are secured by national or state law:
Belgium observes 10 public holidays:
New Year's Day, Easter Monday, 1st May, Ascension Day, Pentecost, 21st July, Assumption Day-15th August, All Saint's Day-1st November, 11th November and Christmas Day.France observes 10 public holidays:
New Year's Day, Easter Monday, 1st May, Ascension Day, Pentecost, 14th July, Assumption Day-15th August, All Saint's Day-1st November, 11th November and Christmas Day.The Federal German Republic observes between 10 and 13 holidays:
The number and dates vary according to the provisions of State law, but of the 12 most universally observed, 1st January, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1st May, Pentecost, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are observed in all States and Epiphany—6th January, Corpus Christi—mid June, Assumption Day, 15th August and All Saint's Day-1st November are observed in most States.Italy observes 17 public holidays:
New Year's Day, Epiphany-6th January. 19th March, 25th April, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Monday, 1st May, 19th May, Corpus Christi—mid-June, 29th June, Assumption Day-15th August, All Saint's Day—1st November, 4th November, 8th December, Christmas and Boxing Day.Holland observes seven public holidays:
New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Pentecost, 23rd June, Assumption Day-15th August, Christmas and Boxing Day.Luxembourg observes 10 public holidays:
New Year's Day, Easter Monday, 1st May, Ascension Day. Pentecost, 23rd June, Assumption Day-15th August, All Saint's Day-1st November, Christmas and Boxing Day.Denmark observes 11 public holidays:
New Year's Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, General Prayer Day 71W -18th May, Ascension Day, Constitution Day-5th June, Pentecost, Christmas Eve, Christmas and Boxing Day.The Republic of Ireland observes six public holidays:
St. Patrick's Day-17th March, Easter Monday, first Monday in June, first Monday in August, Christmas and Boxing Day. Good Friday is a Bank Holiday but not a public holiday.United Kingdom
There is no corresponding provision for statutory public holidays in the United Kingdom. Six bank and common law holidays are observed in England and Wales, and, in Scotland, as follows:England and Wales: Good Friday, Easter Monday, last Monday in May, last Monday in August, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.Scotland: New Year's Day, 2nd January, Good Friday, first Monday in May, first Monday in August, Christmas Day. These days are generally observed as public holidays in much of England and Wales, but there are local variations.Since the fullest information about the second part of the Question is not readily available, I will write to the hon. Member further as soon as possible.