§ Mr. GOLDMANasked the President of the Local Government Board which day or 942W days in the week is or are the most general for the early closing day in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. McKENNAMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The return which was presented to Parliament last year (Cd. 7032) of the Orders made by local authorities during the first year the Act was in operation shows that of the shops for which the day of the weekly half-holiday had been fixed by Order, the majority have Wednesday as the day. Thursday comes next, and applies to a large number. The other days of the week only count for a small minority. It must be remembered, however, that in all cases where a day other than Saturday is fixed the shopkeeper has the option of substituting Saturday if he prefers it. In the case of the shops for which Orders have not been made, the shopkeeper is at liberty to fix his own day, and I have no information as to the day most frequently chosen.