§ 75. Mr. KELLAWAYasked the Home Secretary if his Department is responsible for the confusion and consequent injury to trade which has been caused in London with regard to the administration of the Shops Act; if not, who is so responsible; and whether he will take steps to ensure through the proper authority that the full 988 benefit of the Act may no longer be denied to the shopkeepers and shop assistants of London?
§ Mr. McKENNAMy Department is not responsible for the local administration of the Shops Act. The administration of the Act in any district rests with the local authority of the district, who in the case of London are the County Council, subject to any delegation of their powers to the Metropolitan boroughs under the provisions of Section 13 of the Act. I understand that the county council, who have been in communication for some time past with the borough councils on the question of the desirability of delegating certain of their powers, have now decided to undertake the whole administration of the Act themselves.