That is not correct, you are entitled to take all your holiday before you go on maternity as well as any bank holidays that will occur. Check out this site to give you government advice for approaching your work.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Pregnancyandmaternityrights/DG_175088As you will notice it says that if your maternity leave goes over a holiday entitlement year than they are not obliged to carry it over.
For this reason I have arrange with my company excatly what to do with all my entitlements including the christmas bank holidays as my maternity leaves runs over into the next holiday entitlement year.
We have agreed I will carry 5 days over and take the remaining days before my maternity leave starts.
If they are going to be funny I would make sure you get written agreement of any holiday being carried over so you don't return to find you have lost it as such.
Forgot to add teh the accuring of bank holidays is only if they are not included in your holiday entitlement.
Good luck
[Modified by: JodiBump on September 09, 2010 04:34 PM]