Tell your slypdexic friend to re-check his DCI - it was an increase to 38 days, thus allowing statutory bank holidays to be taken at any time without the non-existent pay clerks (courtesy of JPA) having to manually enter this entitlement each time.
Also, IIRC, of these 38 days, 30 are now officially a right, and not a privilege -in keeping with extant employment legislation. Hoorah. Now stop moaning and try to keep those Hercs serviceable so the people who really matter can get their R+R.