§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the uncertainty expressed in many quarters by the working population, he will state what the Government consider should be the official public holidays and non-working days over the Christmas and New Year period of 1976; and what guidance he can give to the employers of those who find themselves on duty over that period when the majority are not at work.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe Government's aim is to enable holidays to be taken in substitution for the two holidays which, because Christmas Day 1976 and New Year's Day 1977 fall on Saturdays, could otherwise have been lost to the great majority of workers who do not normally work at weekends. At the same time, people who normally work on Saturdays will be able to have their holidays on other days where this is more convenient. The total number of holidays however, should not be increased inconsistently with the pay policy.
267WMy right hon. Friend announced details of the Bank Holiday arrangements during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year period in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) on 27th July 1976—[Col. 916, c. 161–2.] In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Bank Holidays this year will be taken on Monday 27th December, Tuesday 28th December and Monday 3rd January. In Scotland the Bank Holidays will be on Monday 27th December, Tuesday 28th December, Monday 3rd January and Tuesday 4th January.
Bank Holidays, however, are not taken as holidays by all workers. I have therefore made it clear that the designation of these Bank Holidays does not override and is not intended to interfere with alternative holiday arrangements made between employers and employees.