HC Deb 02 July 1986 vol 100 c1128

Lords amendment: No. 59, after clause 61 insert— . Section 1 of the Shops (Airports) Act 1962 (exemption of traders at certain airports from restrictions under Part I of the Shops Act 1950 on hours of closing) shall have effect in relation to the provisions of Part IV of the Shops Act 1950 (Sunday trading) as well as in relation to the provisions of Part I of that Act; and accordingly, in subsection (1) of that section, after "hours of closing)" there shall be inserted "and of Part IV of that Act (which relates to Sunday trading)".

Mr. Michael Spicer

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this it will be convenient to take Lords amendment No. 103.

Mr. Spicer

Shops at designated airports are already exempt from the restrictions on weekday opening hours imposed by the Shops Act 1950. This clause and the consequential amendment extend that exemption to cover the Sunday trading restrictions.

Mr. Robert Hughes

I wonder what the new clause means—

Mr. Spicer

They can carry on business at any time.

Mr. Hughes

It is said, from a sedentary position, that they can carry on business at any time. Is it a further extension of an exemption, or does it put right something which has been wrong for some time? If that is so, I would not accept it without question. I do not want to detain the House, but I ask the hon. Gentleman whether the new clause has been inserted because the Government had such a disastrous defeat on Sunday trading generally. Why has it been necessary to introduce the new clause? Is it a major extension? Why do we need it?

Mr. Michael Spicer

It simply confirms, in statute, the existing practice at the airports.

Question put and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords amendment agreed to.

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