HC Deb 28 March 1985 vol 76 cc642-4
6. Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to announce the Government's final response to the Auld committee report.

7. Mr. Freeman

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the Auld report on Sunday trading.

16. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to announce the Government's final conclusions on changes in the Shops Act 1950.

19. Mr. Michael Forsyth

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to deal with the law relating to shop opening hours; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Leon Brittan)

I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, and he has agreed that there will be a debate on the Auld committee's report as soon as possible after Easter, in which I shall announce the Government's intentions in respect of its recommendations.

Since the report was published, we have received 528 letters about the report, of which 166 favoured its recommendations and 362 opposed them.

I do not think that any significant conclusions can be drawn from these figures.

Mr. Colvin

Will my right hon. and learned Friend bear in mind, during his consideration of his response to the Auld report, that the introduction of universal Sunday trading may well result in the creation of many more part-time jobs? Will he therefore join the lobby for two other essential reforms: first, the extension of job-splitting and work-sharing schemes; and, secondly, the abolition of the wages councils?

Mr. Brittan

As I wish to retain my present job, I had better not join any lobbies for the moment. However, I understand the force of my hon. Friend's question and have some sympathy with it.

Mr. Freeman

We are very pleased to have news of a debate in the House of Commons. However, before that debate takes place, will my right hon. and learned Friend give thought to the alternative approach of allowing each local authority to make up its own mind about whether or not to permit Sunday trading?

Mr. Brittan

I shall bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said.

Mr. Dykes

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the number of letters he has received and the ratio for and against Sunday trading reflect the acute anxiety of the public that complete liberalisation will destroy the traditional British Sunday?

Mr. Brittan

I am not sure that I would draw that conclusion from those letters. It is always extremely dangerous to judge the effect of a proposal or the views of the country about it on the basis of such letters.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Michael Forsyth.

Mr. Rhodes James

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Yes, Mr. Rhodes James. I am sorry. I have a lousy cold.

Mr. Rhodes James

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that although many of us would welcome changes which would remove anomalies in the present law, some of us would be strongly and wholly opposed to unrestricted Sunday opening?

Mr. Brittan

I respect and understand that view, but my hon. Friend will, of course, look at those parts of the Auld report which examined the possibility of partial changes and came down against them.

Mr. Coleman

As such legislation as might flow from this would have the result of allowing shops in Wales to open on Sundays, and as that would be a matter of controversy, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider introducing into any legislation a provision such as that for the Sunday opening of public houses — a referendum of the people concerned?

Mr. Brittan

I am not an enthusiast for referendums of any kind, but I shall bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman has said.

Mr. Andrew MacKay

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that many Conservative Members will be pleased that he is not taking too seriously the representations that he has received on the Auld report, because it is our clear view from our constituencies that the overwhelming majority of the people we represent are strongly in favour of Sunday trading and the reforms?

Mr. Brittan

I am aware of the extent of that feeling as well. It is not that I am not taking the representations seriously; it is merely that I do not necessarily regard them as representative.

Mr. Skinner

Is the Home Secretary aware that Labour Members have been inundated with letters from bodies such as the Lord's Day Observance Society? Now that the Government are beginning to wobble, the Home Secretary should beware of a combination of the Church and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.

Mr. Brittan

I am sure that that is a apt warning, and, coming from the quarter that it does, I shall take it in the spirit in which it was intended.