HC Deb 21 June 1994 vol 245 cc186-7

Lords amendment: No. 25, in page 10, line 47, at end insert—

(" "catering business" means—
  1. (a) the sale of meals, refreshments or intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises on which they are sold, or
  2. (b) the sale of meals or refreshments prepared to order for immediate consumption off the premises.")

Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.—[Mr. Peter Lloyd.]

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this it will be convenient to take Lords amendments Nos. 26 to 43.

Mr. Ray Powell

On the amendments dealing with employment protection, it was emphasised in Committee and on the Floor of the House that not only would staff who were expected to work on Sundays be given an enhanced payment—we talked about double time—but fuller protection than is currently in the Bill. As we are reaching the final stage of the Bill, some of us are alarmed that no protection is given to the hundreds of thousands of shop workers who will be expected to work on Sundays.

Will the Government consider introducing some sort of amendments or statutory instrument so that employees compelled to work on Sundays will be given some protection? The least that those who have been demanding for years that shops be open on Sundays should do is give one of the most poorly paid group of workers in the country—shop workers—a decent wage when they give up their Sundays to provide a service to the shop and the country. The least that we can do is ask the House to consider that at the first opportunity, so that workers receive the enhanced payment promised to them when the Bill was in Committee and elsewhere.

Question put and agreed to.

Lords amendments Nos. 26 to 43 agreed to.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up a Reason to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their amendment No. 9.—[Mr. Peter Lloyd.]

Ordered, That Mr. James Arbuthnot, Dr. Liam Fox, Mr. Peter Lloyd, Mr. Alan Meale and Ms Joan Ruddock be members of the Committee.—[Mr. Peter Lloyd.]

Ordered, That three be the quorum of the Committee.—[Mr. Peter Lloyd.]

Ordered, That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—[Mr. Peter Lloyd.]

Reason for disagreeing to Lords amendment No. 9 reported, and agreed to; to be communicated to the Lords.