§ 12. Mr. R. C. Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will hold an inquiry into the need for amending the Shops Act, 1928, to consider whether pre-war hours for shops were unnecessarily long.
§ 16. Sir Patrick Hannonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to make a statement on the appeal submitted to him by the Early Closing Association in January last, in which it was urged that the latest closing hour of shops should be seven, instead of eight during the week, and eight, instead of nine on the late night; and if he will consider the desirability of providing facilities to obtain closing orders by local option, at a majority request of traders, at an hour not earlier than six, instead of seven.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI fully recognise the desire of my hon. Friends that this question, which affects the interests of the large number of persons employed in shops, should not be overlooked or indefinitely postponed, but I am not in a position to make a statement at the present time.
§ Mr. LeslieWhen the Minister is in a position to do so, will he consider a limitation of the assistants' hours, because early closing is not sufficient, as it does not assure them of getting away when the shop closes?
§ Mr. MorrisonI will see that that point is considered.
§ Mr. Rhys DaviesDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend us to understand that he is making some sort of inquiry into this very important subject?
§ Mr. MorrisonI did not intend anything. My answer concluded:
I am not in a position to make a statement at the present time.