Bank holiday to be scrapped

The Government intends to abolish the May Day bank holiday from 1995, MPs were told yesterday.

Michael Forsyth, Employment Minister, said the holiday had attracted criticism since its inception in 1978.

Announcing a period of public consultation, he said the Government wanted to obtain views on the possibility of an extra day in August or a new holiday on the last Monday in October. Views should be submitted by the end of February.