§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what study he has made of the number of firms in 1976 which operate an eight-day holiday from Christmas to New Year; and if he will initiate discussions with the TUC and CBI aimed at obtaining further progress towards a general holiday entitlement of at least four weeks including, where possible, a holiday week covering the period from Christmas to New Year.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI have made no such study, but the Government supported the 1975 EEC recommendation, for four weeks' annual paid holiday by the end of 1978, on the basis that its progressive achievement was a matter for collective bargaining, subject to the requirements of counter-inflation policy. The dates on which holidays are taken are also, in general, a matter for negotiation between employers and employees.