§ 11.2 pm
§ Mr. Michael J. Martin (Glasgow, Springburn)I beg to ask leave to present a petition which was compiled by the efforts of Mr. Lawrence C. Kelly of 56 Ballendaloch drive, Glasgow, which deals with the Shops Bill. 'The petitioners ask that the Government do not pass legislation which will permit Sunday opening.
Contrary to popular opinion, the proposed legislation is not popular north of the border. I know that the Rev. Frank Myers, the minister of the central Springburn Church of Scotland, and his congregation would fully support this petition because a large number of the congregation and Frank Myers have written to me. They fear that, when and if the legislation is passed, it will mean we will have Sunday opening on the main streets of the cities in Scotland. That would be undesirable to our way of life and undesirable for the shop workers and members of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers who are not enjoying a decent standard of living at present.
The petition concludes:
Wherefore your petitioners pray 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.