Enterprise and Culture Committee Backs Greater Celebration of St Andrew's Day

CENT005/2006 | 21 September 2006

The bill to create a bank holiday on or near St Andrew’s Day has today been endorsed by the Enterprise and Culture Committee.

In the committee’s second report at Stage 1 on the St Andrew’s Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Bill, members unanimously endorsed the joint statement made by the First Minister and bill sponsor Dennis Canavan which supported the passing of the bill into law.

Convener Alex Neil MSP said:

“Our committee believes that the bill, if passed, would provide an important signal that the Parliament wishes to see, over time, a greater celebration of St Andrew’s Day but that other measures, such as events and festivities, are required.

“The Executive should also look holistically at the opportunities throughout the calendar year to promote Scotland and its culture both here and overseas.”

In the report, the committee:

• re-emphasises that the establishment of any bank holiday does not place a statutory obligation on employers to grant it as part of employee holiday entitlement.

• states its belief that the bill if passed provides a legislative framework for such a ‘national day of celebration’ provided that additional steps are taken to encourage public and private sector organisations to consider marking the day and also that, over time, greater efforts are made at national and local levels to organise events and other forms of celebration.

• recommends that the Executive and the Parliament consider what lessons can be learnt from the consideration of the bill. These include the legislative process and the timetable, consultation procedures, recourse to largely ‘symbolic’ legislation and the role of the Scottish Executive in engaging with non-executive bills.

• gives its support to a range of events and initiatives that could form the basis of a celebration of St Andrew’s Day.

The Committee Report in full

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