§ Mr. James Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about arrangements for the introduction of the May Day holiday in Scotland from 1978.
§ Mr. MillanSince the first Monday in May is already a statutory bank holiday in Scotland, the last Monday in May will be designated as an additional bank holiday in 1978 and subsequent years. Bank holidays are not, however, observed as general public holidays in Scotland where, by tradition and practice, local authorities fix public holidays on a locality basis. In light of consultations 733W with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, local authorities have been invited to arrange for the additional holiday to be held in their respective areas on an appropriate Monday in May, other than the first Monday, since adoption of the latter date would interfere unacceptably with the administrative arrangements for local government elections, which under statute takes place on the first Tuesday in May.