§ Ms KellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the cost of increasing the statutory paid holiday from three weeks to four weeks; and how many workers have benefited. [122604]
§ Mr. Alan Johnson[holding answer 18 May 2000]: The estimated cost of the increase in the paid annual leave entitlement to four weeks, on 23 November 1999 as required by the Working Time Directive, was £0.4 billion per annum. It is further estimated that the rise benefited 3.1 million employees. A full Regulatory Impact Assessment is held in the Library of the House.