There is widespread public support, as indeed there is across the parties in this Chamber, for making St David's Day a holiday here in Wales. However, the creation of bank holidays in England and Wales is not a devolved matter. In order to create St David's Day as a bank holiday, 1 March would need to be added to the list of existing bank holidays included in the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. This is currently within the gift of the UK Government.

Many Members will be aware that we have, on more than one occasion, asked the UK Government either to create St David's Day as a public holiday or to transfer the power to enable us to do it ourselves. Unfortunately, our requests have been refused—