§ Sir Raymond Gowerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consideration he has given to the feasibility of limiting Sunday trading to a specified number of prescribed hours; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what consideration he has given to the feasibility of retaining some limits on the possible growth of Sunday trading by setting a modest maximum number of employees who may work in a shop or stores; and if he will make a statement;
330W(3) what consideration he has given to making the subject of deregulation of Sunday trading a matter for the decision of district councils; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he has given any consideration to restricting deregulation of Sunday trading to sales of foods, drinks and medicines; and if he will make a statement.
(5) what consideration he has given to representations from members of the National Chamber of Trade regarding the possible effects of deregulation of Sunday trading on small shops; and if he will make a statement;
(6) if he has given any consideration to experience in countries where Sunday trading is limited to prescribed hours; and if he will make a statement;
(7) if he has given any consideration to limiting Sunday trading to shops or stores of a prescribed modest maximum floor space or area; and if he will make a statement;
(8) what consideration he has given to the implications for the demand for public transport services of the deregulation of Sunday trading;
(9) if he has given any consideration to experience in countries where Sunday trading is limited by reference to prescribed maximum floor space or area of premises;
(10) what is his estimate of the effect of deregulation of Sunday trading on road traffic in urbanised, densely populated areas of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe Government have given the closest consideration to the views expressed both by the Auld committee and in another place on all the possible options for amending the Shops Act 1950. They have also taken into account the experience of other countries and the views of the Auld committee and others on the likely implications of changes in the law for small shops as well as wider social considerations including public transport and urban traffic. The Government's view—like that of the Auld committee—remains that there is no remedy for the present deeply unsatisfactory situation as convincing as the proposals for total deregulation of shop hours contained in the Shops Bill.
§ Sir Raymond Gowerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from persons or organisations in Wales in favour of deregulation of Sunday trading, and how many in opposition; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI regret that a separate record is not kept of representations from Wales and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.