§ Mr. Hillasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there have been under the Shops Act 1950 for Sunday trading in Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire, Wiltshire, West Sussex and Surrey in each of the past five years for which records are available.
§ Mr. RaisonThe information readily available to us, which may be incomplete, is given in the attached table. Information for 1977 and 1978 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Defendants found guilty of offences of Sunday trading against Part IV of the Shops Act 1950 Number of defendants Area 1979 1980 1981 Berkshire — — — Dorset 1 2 5 Hampshire 6 6 1 Surrey 2 — — West Sussex — — 1 Wiltshire — — 1
§ Mr. Sainsburyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect on the level of trade would result from the abolition of restraints on Sunday trading.
§ Mr. RaisonThe restraints on Sunday trading were never intended to influence the levels of trade and it is not part of my right hon. Friend's responsibilities to assess what consequences for those levels the removal of these restraints might bring.