HC Deb 09 May 1938 vol 335 cc1239-40
41. Miss Ward

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any evidence as to the extent to which the Shops (Sunday Trading Restriction) Act is causing hardship to small one-man businesses?

Mr. Lloyd

My right hon. Friend has received complaints during the last two or three months from about 30 shopkeepers in different parts of the country, at least half of whom indicated that they were proprietors of one-man businesses. My right hon. Friend has also been informed by various hon. Members and others that they have received similar complaints.

Miss Ward

What is my hon. Friend proposing to do about it?

Mr. Higgs

Is my hon. Friend aware that this Act is also causing considerable inconvenience to the shopping public in certain districts in West Birmingham, and is it not possible for him to give the matter consideration on those lines?

Sir John Haslam

Has not my hon. Friend received evidence that this Act has caused great satisfaction and pleasure to many single-shop proprietors, and also to many of the larger establishments, and that the greater benefit has resulted to the vast number of shopkeepers throughout the country?

Sir J. Nall

Is it not the case that this matter is bound to be controversial, whichever way it is settled, and that the present difficulty is due to the absurd anomalies which have arisen under the last Bill; and will the Department take steps to have it settled properly one way or the other?

Mr. R. C. Morrison

Is it now the policy of certain sections of the Government still further to commercialise the Sunday?