§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that many women are now doing work of national importance, and in many cases have only Saturday afternoons left on which to attend to their domestic duties and do their shopping, he will arrange for shops to remain open on one evening in the week, preferably Friday, late enough to enable housewives who are away all day at work to do their week's shopping?
§ Mr. PeakeMy right hon. Friend appreciates that for many housewives Saturday is the only afternoon free for domestic and shopping duties and he understands that shopkeepers are generally aware of this and keep open later on Friday and Saturday evenings than on other days. He has no power to compel shops to keep open until any particular time, but if my hon. Friend knows of special difficulties having arisen in any particular place and will send me particulars I shall be glad to have inquiries made.