HC Deb 14 December 1939 vol 355 cc1238-9
15. Mr. Robert Morgan

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that under Regulation 60A, Sub-section (2), Part D, issued under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, the Derby Town Council have sanctioned an order extending the local hours of closing to 8 p.m. on the late day and 7 p.m. on all other days, on the explicit condition that only the occupier or the members of the family of the occupier shall, except in a hairdressing establishment, be employed after the normal closing hours of 7 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively; and whether, to avoid misconceptions in war time, he will state whether the said regulation is approved by him for general adoption?

Sir J. Anderson

I have no power to approve or disapprove orders made by local authorities in the exercise of the discretion conferred on them by the regulation, but I am advised that a provision in such an order applying to shops in which only the occupier or members of his family are employed hours different from those applicable to other shops doing the same trade or business is not within the powers conferred on the authority by the Shops (Hours of Closing) Act, 1928, as amended by the Order in Council of 19th October last.