§ Viscount Brentfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
In the light of reports that the Government of France are shortly to up-date their Sunday trading laws without waiting for decisions to be taken by the European Court of Justice on this matter, what conclusions they draw for the timing and content of any changes to United Kingdom law on Sunday trading.
Viscount AstorWhether or not the questions concerning United Kingdom legislation on Sunday trading which the House of Lords has referred to the European Court of Justice bear on French circumstances would appear to be for the Government of France to consider. Given that reference by the House of Lords, we do not consider that it would be sensible to try to settle policy on the merits of proposals for continuing to restrict trading in types or classes of goods on Sundays here until the compatibility of such measures with European Community law has been determined. It remains impracticable to bring forward proposals for reform until at least the legal position is clear.
§ Viscount BrentfordTo ask Her Majesty's Government:
What conclusions for the reform of the law on Sunday trading they draw from voter opinion surveys carried out by local newspapers in Leicester, Cardiff, Colchester, Norwich, Reading and Worcester, all showing substantial majorities against illegal shop opening at Christmas and a Sunday trading free for all.
Viscount AstorWe do of course fully recognise and respect many people's wish that Sunday should not just be like any other day of the week. The extent to which it is necessary to legislate for this is one of the 93WA important questions to which we are giving consideration as we seek to promote the development and agreement of acceptable proposals for reform.