§ 2.38 p.m.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when it is their intention to introduce legislation to amend the law as regards Sunday trading.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, the Government consider that the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Sunday Observance afford a reasonable basis for eliminating the worst anomalies of the present law on Sunday 901 trading in England and Wales; but they can hold out no prospect of Government legislation on this subject in the present Session.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether, if a Private Member's Bill were introduced on this subject, the Government would be able to give any help either as regards drafting or as regards Parliamentary time?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, the Government would support Private Member's legislation to amend the law on Sunday trading if it followed the lines of the recommendations of the Crathorne Report; but the Government cannot enter into any commitment to provide legislative time; nor, for the present, at any rate, can the Government undertake to afford drafting assistance.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I note the noble Lord's words "for the present", for which I thank him. I shall take steps to see that a Private Member's Bill is introduced, and I hope that when the time comes the "present" will have ceased and that the drafting help will be available from the Government.
LORD INGLEWOODMy Lords, would the noble Lord say whether we are more likely to get this legislation after a statement that they have no immediate intention as against giving twenty assurances to Parliament and then tearing them up?