Dennis Canavan wants Scotland to have an extra day off

A record number of MSPs have signed a member's bill to make 30 November a public holiday in Scotland.

It was raised by independent MSP Dennis Canavan, who said in May it had been signed by 76 cross-party MSPs.

A deadline of 24 August has been set for people to send their views to the Enterprise and Culture Committee, which will also hear oral evidence.

Members will investigate a number of issues, including what impact a St Andrew's Day break would have on businesses and their employees and on precisely what date it should be held.

The committee is keen for organisations and individuals to have their final say Alex Neil MSP Enterprise and Culture Committee

Committee chairman Alex Neil said: "This is an important bill for the people of Scotland and I recognise the extensive consultation already undertaken by Dennis Canavan.

"Nevertheless, the committee is keen for organisations and individuals to have their final say on the proposal to designate St Andrew's Day - or a date around that time of year - as a bank holiday.

"I urge all those interested to send the committee their views on the advantages and disadvantages of the proposals set out in the bill."

The bill aims to "recognise St Andrew's Day as Scotland's national day and a celebration of Scotland's multi-cultural and multi-ethnic traditions".

The move has also been supported by trades unions, religious leaders, local authorities and some business people.

First Minister Jack McConnell said in May he had "yet to be convinced" by the merits of the idea.

If approved, it would take to nine the number of public holidays in Scotland each year.

It would not give a legal right to extra pay or time off to staff who work on such holidays. That would be a matter of contract or agreement between the employer and employee.

Shop sales on holidays go up, the bill says

There would be no cost to the Scottish administration if St Andrew's Day was included within the total annual holiday entitlement or substituted for an existing holiday.

But if it was treated as an extra holiday, the cost to the Scottish Executive of granting its own employees an extra day's holiday would be �640,000, according to the bill's financial memorandum.

The Scottish Retail Consortium estimates that shop sales on a bank holiday can soar by up to 80%, depending on the type of retailer, the bill said.

The cost to local authorities is put at �24.5m and �16.5m to the health service.

Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond has also called for St Andrew's Day to be made a public holiday.