HC Deb 08 December 1976 vol 922 cc262-3W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the dates of Bank holidays for the five years starting 1978, and indicate whether it is intended that the early spring, and early August Bank holidays will occur on fixed dates in first or last Monday of a month or will be in constant time related to other Bank holidays such as Easter Monday.

Mr. Denzil Davies

Under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 the following days are Bank holidays in any year:

England and Wales

  • Easter Monday.
  • The last Monday in May.
  • The last Monday in August.
  • 26th December if not a Sunday.
  • 27th December in a year in which 25th or 26th December is a Sunday.

Scotland

New Year's Day, if not a Sunday, or, if a Sunday, 3rd January, 2nd January, if not a Sunday or, if a Sunday, 3rd January.

  • Good Friday.
  • The first Monday in May.
  • The first Monday in August.
  • Christmas Day, if not a Sunday or, if a Sunday, 26th December.

Northern Ireland

  • 17th March, if not a Sunday or, if a Sunday, 18th March.
  • Easter Monday.
  • The last Monday in May.
  • The last Monday in August.
  • 26th December, if not a Sunday.
  • 27th December in a year in which 25th or 26th December is a Sunday.

In addition, Good Friday and Christmas Day are Common Law holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and in Northern Ireland 12th July is proclaimed as a Bank and public holiday. Since January 1974 a New Year's Day Bank holiday has been proclaimed each year under the 1971 Act in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and similarly a Boxing Day Bank holiday was introduced in Scotland in 1973.

The Government have no intention of altering the arrangements for the Spring or August Bank holidays, in 1978 and future years, although the Spring Bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland next year—1977—will be held over until Monday 6th June because of the special Silver Jubilee Bank holiday the day after.

The Government have also announced this year that there will be a May Day Bank holiday starting in 1978. In that year the holiday will be taken on 1st May in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; a further announcement will be made about the arrangements in 1979 and subsequent years. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will announce soon the date of the May Day Bank holiday in Scotland, where the first Monday in May is already a Bank holiday.

The Banking and Financial Dealings Act does not provide for days in lieu automatically to be taken as Bank holidays when a movable Bank holiday falls on a Saturday. On 30th March this year the then Secretary of State for Employment announced that the Government nevertheless intended in future to grant a Bank holiday in lieu whenever a movable holiday falls at the weekend. Although arrangements for the forthcoming Christmas/New Year period were announced by the Secretary of State for Employment on 27th July, the Government have not yet announced their proposals for Bank holidays in lieu in 1978 and subsequent years.