Minister quizzed on holiday call

Tom McCabe was questioned over the St Andrew's Day plans

Finance and Public Service Feform Minister Tom McCabe has been quizzed by MSPs over plans to make St Andrew's Day a bank holiday.

Mr McCabe faced questions from members of the Scottish Parliament's enterprise and culture committee.

His appearance follows First Minister Jack McConnell's announcement that he supports making the day a bank holiday.

However, workers will not get an extra day off as originally proposed by independent MSP Dennis Canavan.

The Scottish Executive has backed a compromise which would see bosses encouraged to swap an existing local bank holiday for one on 30 November.

'Very unhappy'

Mr McCabe was asked what factors had led to the executive's compromise.

He said: "I don't know if anyone is putting particular emphasis on a local holiday."

He added that it was up to employers to discuss with employees the movement of one of the existing holidays to St Andrew's Day.

Mr McCabe said he would be "very unhappy" if May Day was lost.

Mr McCabe attacked a SNP MSP for "disregarding" the Queen

He then rounded on the SNP's Michael Matheson for suggesting that the Queen's birthday could be swapped for a St Andrew's Day holiday.

"I'm sure Mr Matheson won't mind if I portray that as the SNP having something of a disregard for the Queen," he said.

"The executive has been consistent in saying we sought to improve the celebration of our national day."

Mr McConnell said: "I believe that we should encourage employers and employees to mark the day with a holiday, but that this should be as a substitute for an existing local holiday, rather than an additional one."

He made the statement after meeting Mr Canavan, the MSP for Falkirk West.

Mr Canavan's St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Bill is currently being considered by members of the committee.

I am now very hopeful that parliamentary approval for my bill will encourage employers to recognise St Andrew's Day Dennis Canavan

Mr Canavan said his preferred option was still for the day to be an additional holiday, rather than a substitute one.

He added: "The Scottish Executive has indicated that, if that presents difficulties for some employers, then they could make it a substitute holiday.

"I am now very hopeful that parliamentary approval for my bill will encourage employers to recognise St Andrew's Day so that Scots will have the opportunity of celebrating our patron saint, our cultural diversity and our membership of the international community."

Members of the committee last year gave their backing to the proposals for a bank holiday to mark Scotland's national day.

However, in October MSPs voted by 66 to 58 to send the bill back to the committee for further consideration.