HL Deb 25 June 1973 vol 343 cc1700-1

2.47 p.m.

LORD DERWENT

My 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 whether they are still of the opinion that amendment of Sunday trading laws is suitable for a Private Member's Bill, or whether they now realise that such amendment is the duty and responsibility of the Government.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS)

My Lords, amendment of the Sunday trading laws would be appropriate either for Government legislation or for Private Member's Bill; but even accepting the unsatisfactory state of the present law, there are other matters which, in the Government's view, must command higher legislative priority.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, I am somewhat surprised that my noble friend is again talking of a Private Member's Bill. Is he not aware that this House has twice passed an amending Bill and that on the last occasion it was on the Government's initiative that it was stopped from going any further in another place? If my noble friend is talking still of a Private Member's Bill, is that not rather insulting to the decisions of this House?

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, I was invited to say whether it was a suitable subject for a Private Member's Bill. I have said that it is suitable for that or for Government legislation. I think it was on Monday last that I paid tribute to the efforts of my noble friend and of this House to pass on two occasions a Private Member's Bill which, for one reason or another, did not make progress in another place.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, may I put one further question? As the Shops Act, under which most Sunday trading laws come, was major Government legislation, is my noble friend saying that it is not the responsibility of Government to put right an Act of Parliament which is working badly or in some cases not working at all?

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, I did not say that it was not the responsibility of Government. I entirely agree with my noble friend that it could be the responsibility of Government either to promote legislation or to be sympathetic to Private Member legislation. What I attempted to stress was the question of priority. There are a number of subjects which the House and individual Members of it would like to see enacted. We have just had an example from the noble Lord, Lord Janner, of yet another.