INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

That this House welcomes the 10,000-strong petition being presented to Parliament on Tuesday 8th March 2005 by trade unionists, for International Women's Day to become a paid bank holiday; recognises that International Women's Day is when women in all countries come together to commemorate their achievements, and to continue to organise for change to improve women's rights; notes that there are fewer bank holidays in the UK than in the rest of the European Union; and therefore calls on the Government to establish International Women's Day as an additional paid bank holiday.