§ Mr. Leslieasked the Home Secretary whether he will recommend to local authorities the advisability of abstaining from issuing orders for later closing of shops beyond the time laid down in the recent general order issued from the Home Office before calling a conference of all traders, and the unions representing the workers, so as to ascertain the views of all parties concerned?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe Order-in-Council gives discretion to local authorities to vary, within certain limits, the general closing hours; and it must be left to the local authorities to decide what steps they will take to inform themselves as to local circumstances and the views of local traders before exercising that discretion. I propose, however, shortly to review the working of the Order as I promised, and I shall not do so without consulting representatives of the principal associations concerned.