§ Mr. David Amess (Basildon)With your permission, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and that of the House, I beg leave to present a petition which has been signed by more than 1,000 of my constituents who are deeply worried about proposals for unrestricted trading on Sundays. They very much wish to keep Sunday a special day, and I entirely share their sentiments.
The petition reads:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of residents of Basildon constituency, sheweth that the undersigned are opposed to the provision for unlimited Sunday Trading in the Shops Bill currently before Parliament, recognising that Sunday has special characteristics as a day of rest, recreation and worship for the benefit of our family and community life.Wherefore your Petitioners play that your Honourable House do maintain legal limitations on Sunday Trading to ensure that the special character of Sunday is protected.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.To lie upon the Table.