HL Deb 22 May 1974 vol 351 cc1436-7

3.2 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 intend to strengthen the law against Sunday markets, whose traders do not pay rates, to the detriment of local traders who do pay rates but are not allowed to trade on Sundays.

LORD WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, the Sunday trading laws apply to market stalls exactly as they do to shops. If the noble Lord will permit me to say so, this is not really a matter of the law; it is a matter of enforcement.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, while agreeing with the noble Lord, may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government can do anything to persuade certain local authorities to carry out the law? They are the law enforcement authorities. Does the noble Lord know that although many local authorities carry out their duty by prosecution, others take no notice at all of the law and some actually seem to support the law breakers?

LORD WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, there is much in what the noble Lord said. I cannot commit the Government on this matter, but I will draw the attention of my right honourable friend to the suggestion he has made. The Government agree that this situation is very unsatisfactory indeed, and something ought to be done to tidy up this matter. As the noble Lord said, there have been a number of prosecutions resulting in more than one of these markets being closed. I hesitate to suggest to the noble Lord, who, I believe, has brought in two Bills on this matter, that it might be helpful if a third one could be started in another place.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, would it not be more helpful if Her Majesty's Government could start a Bill?