§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what additional funds have been set aside contingently for local authorities during the financial year 1986–87 to provide such services as may be required for Sundays and weekends in the event that the Shops Bill [Lords] is passed;
(2) what estimates have been supplied to him by local authorities of the additional costs likely to arise to them in providing municipal services if the Shops Bill [Lords] is enacted; and what information he has as to the nature of additional services that will be required.
§ Mr. WaddingtonConsultations with local authority associations have shown that no reasonable estimates of any additional services or expenditure can be prepared until the extent of additional opening of shops can be assessed.The Auld committee concluded that any increase in the cost of public services would be trivial; subsequently, one association, the Association of County Councils, has suggested that something over £1 million could be required and another, the Association of District Councils, predicts no marked effect on the rate burden.
§ Mrs. Peacockasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations the Government have received from hon. and right hon. Members writing on behalf of their constituents concerning the proposed legislation on Sunday trading.
§ Mr. WaddingtonSince the publication of the Shops Bill the Government has received 974 representations from right hon. and hon. Members concerning the proposed legislation on Sunday trading.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the average fines for convictions for Sunday trading in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information readily available indicates only the number of persons fined within specified monetary limits. I shall write to the hon. Member when I have the information he seeks.
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§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the costs to local authorities in each of the last three years arising from enforcement of the Shops Act.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI regret that I have no information on the costs to local authorities of enforcing the Shops Act.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the current state of compliance with Sunday trading legislation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonIn 1984, the last year for which information is available, there were 743 convictions for illegal trading on a Sunday. It is clear, however, that this does not reflect the extent to which the law is being disregarded. The Auld committee concluded (Cmnd. 9376, paragraph 25) that the existing law was not generally enforced by local authorities and was being widely disregarded by shopkeepers all over the country.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from shops as to the anticipated changes in turnover and profit expected to arise from unrestricted Sunday trading and as to the likely additional costs to them, particularly wages costs.
§ Mr. WaddingtonSince the Shops Bill[Lords] was published the Govenment have received 44 representations from retailers about possible changes in turnover, profits and costs. Some expect increased turnover and profits, others fear increased costs.