HC Deb 12 June 1912 vol 39 cc1007-8W
Captain JESSEL

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the effect upon chemists of the Shop Hours Act, who are obliged to be in attendance to dispense medicines, but are not allowed to sell anything else during the closing of the shop; and whether he could see his way to hold an inquiry into the matter?

Mr. McKENNA

The Act allows a chemist to keep open on the half-holiday for the sale of medicines and medical and surgical appliances, but not for the sale of articles which other shopkeepers are not allowed to sell on the half-holiday. It is obvious that if a shopkeeper carrying on an exempted trade were allowed to sell non-exempted as well as exempted articles on the half-holiday he would obtain an unfair advantage over other shopkeepers, and that it would be open to any shopkeeper by stocking some exempted articles to evade the requirement of the Act altogether. The whole question was very thoroughly considered by Parliament last Session, and I see no sufficient ground for instituting an inquiry as suggested.

Mr. CROOKS

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that in some shops which are continuously open for selling seven days a week the assistant usually had one day in the seven off, now under the Act these assistants are given a half-day on Sunday, so that they are really worse off under the Act than previous to its passing; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation to deal with such cases?

Mr. McKENNA

My attention has not previously been called to any such cases; but I may point out that, as the assistants are entitled under the Act to a half-holiday on a week-day, they would appear, even if they have only a half-holiday on Sunday, to be getting not less time off than they were before the Act passed; and they have the guarantee, which they had not before the Act, of at least a half-day off every week. The question of Sunday closing is full of difficulties, and I see no prospect of the Government being able to undertake further legislation with regard to shops at present.