§ Lord Eltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have received (a) a research paper from the Department of Land Management at the University of Reading on the impact of Sunday trading on retail rents and capital values; (b) a study carried out by the Independent Grocer magazine on the impact on small shops in Dulwich of the seven-day opening of a Sainsbury superstore in the area; and (c) proposals for the reform of the Shops Act 1950 by a group of retailers led by Marks and Spencer plc; and whether their consideration of them will be reflected in the legislation they propose to introduce on the subject.
Earl FerrersWe have received (a) and (c) and, at the noble's Lord's promoting, for which we are grateful, we are now seeking to obtain (b). We have met representatives from Marks and Spencer to discuss their proposals for reform.