§ Mr. W. R. Duckworthasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the difficulties thrown by local authorities in the way of Sunday trading by fish-fryers; and whether, in view of the need for popularising the consumption of fish, he will consult with public bodies concerned with a view to the adoption of a different policy?
§ Sir S. HoareI do not appear to have heard of any difficulties of this kind except in one instance where the Local Authority although prepared to make an Order under Section 5 of the Shops (Sunday Trading Restriction) Act, 1936, permitting the sale on certain Sundays of fried fish and chips at fried fish and chip shops during certain hours of the day, were not prepared to allow such trading for the longer hours desired by the traders affected. I shall, of course, be ready to consider any other cases that may be brought to my notice, but I do not see any sufficient grounds at present for any action on my part in the direction suggested. I may point out that it was at the express request of the organisation representing the trade that the sale of fried fish and chips at a fried fish and chip shop was excluded, in the First Schedule to the Act, from the transactions for the purposes of which a shop may be open for the serving of customers on Sunday.