§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now advise local authorities how they can enforce the law on Sunday trading.
§ Mrs. Rumbold[holding answer 2 July 1991]: As I indicated in my reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter) on 17 June at columns 27–28, we do not consider it either appropriate or necessary to issue guidance about the enforcement of the law on Sunday trading to local authorities; and no development since then causes us to alter that judgment. Responsibility for enforcing the provisions about Sunday trading in the Shops Act 1950 was given by Parliament to local authorities. The authorities have power to enforce those provisions whether by way of a prosecution or a civil action seeking an injunction. Decisions on the means by which to fulfil their responsibility are a matter for the authorities, in consultation with their legal advisers.