§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Geoffrey de Freitas)I beg to move,
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty under subsection (1) of section seven of the Shops Act, 1950, praying that the provisions of that Act relating to general closing hours which have effect only as respects the winter months, being provisions which would otherwise expire on the tenth day of December, nineteen hundred and fifty, be continued in force for a further period of one year until the tenth day of December, nineteen hundred and fifty-one.The provisions of the Shops Act, which it is proposed to continue in force, are those in Section 2, which did two things. First, they fixed the general closing hours for the winter months at 6 p.m., and 7.30 p.m. on the late day. Secondly, they gave power to the local authorities to substitute other hours no later than 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. on two late nights. If the provisions lapse, the winter closing hours would be 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the late dates. These provisions are admittedly stop-gap until amending legislation can be introduced to deal with the closing hours and bring them up to date.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Address to be presented by Privy Councillors or Members of His Majesty's Household.