petitions
Mr Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)
Madam Deputy Speaker, I have been asked to present to the House this petition from a large number of constituents concerning the transfer of post office facilities at Viewpark in north Lanarkshire.
The petition states:
The Petition of residents of Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill constituency and others,
Declares that the proposed transfer of Post Office facilities from Market Place, Viewpark to Old Edinburgh Road, Viewpark is unacceptable for social, economic and community reasons.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take all possible steps to prevent the proposed transfer of facilities.
And the Petitioners remain, etc. [P000838]
Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con)
I am grateful, Madam Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to present this petition. There are no fewer than 2,481 signatures on a petition urging the Government to consider making St George’s day a public holiday. I am grateful to the company, George’s Tradition, which is an award-winning fish and chip chain based in Erewash and surrounding constituencies, which has collated the petition.
England is one of the few countries without a public holiday for its patron saint. Indeed, the House will be aware that in Northern Ireland, St Patrick’s day is a public holiday, and in Scotland, St Andrew’s day is a voluntary bank holiday. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate a country’s traditions and heritage. I cannot let the petition pass—
Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)
Order. The hon. Lady is presenting a petition, and she is allowed to say, according to the procedures of the House, a few words, but she cannot make a speech, and I fear that she is drifting into doing so. If she can make her remarks crisp in presenting her petition, I should be grateful.
Jessica Lee
I shall do so. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Turning to the prayer, the petition states:
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to bring forward proposals to make St George's Day a public holiday in England.
Following is the full text of the petition:
[The Petition of residents of the Erewash constituency and others,
Declares that England is one of very few countries in the world that does not have a public holiday to celebrate its national day; notes that St Patrick's Day is bank holiday in Northern Ireland, and that St Andrew's Day is a voluntary public holiday in Scotland; and further declares that everyone who is part of England should be able to celebrate its traditions, its history, its heritage and the English way of life with a public holiday on St George's Day.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to bring forward proposals to make St George's Day a public holiday in England.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.]
[P000839]
The Vice-Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household (Mr Mark Francois)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. On a technical matter, we should like to request that the order for resuming debate on the Budget refer to “tomorrow” and not “Monday next”. I hope that, with the approval of the Chair, that can be accepted.
Madam Deputy Speaker
Thank you for that point of order, which is extremely helpful to the House. I understand that it is within my powers as Chair to accept that request. The record will be corrected.