petitions

Baroness Primarolo Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd June 2010 Commons Chamber

[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.