§ Angela Smith (Basildon)As this is almost the last business before Christmas, it seems appropriate that the petition of my constituents in Basildon and East Thurrock has a seasonal flavour.
The Petition states:
The Humble Petition of shopworkers of the United Kingdom and others of like disposition.ShewethThat Christmas Day is a special day all for especially families, and is under attack from the ever-increasing desire of retailers to open their shops for trading. That at present there are no means available to stop shopworkers being forced to work on Christmas Day, unless it happens to fall on a Sunday. That the Christmas and New Year period is the busiest of the year and that shopworkers deserve at least one day of rest during that time.Wherefore your petitioners pray that your Honourable House shall urge the Government to introduce a statutory protection of Christmas Day, which will stop shops of over 280 square metres from opening and ensure that not one shopworker is forced to work on Christmas Day. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.To lie upon the Table.