petitions

Mark Francois Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd June 2010 Commons Chamber

[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.