§ Mr. Leachasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the great inconvenience to newsagents and booksellers which will be caused by the proposed order to close shops at 6 p.m. five days per week for the sale of periodicals, books and stationery; and whether he will reconsider the matter?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe new regulation referred to allows newspapers to be sold in shops until 8 p.m. on five days a week and until 9 p.m. on the late day, and this applies to the sale of some publications which are known to the trade as periodicals. I regret that I should not feel justified in extending this provision to books, stationery and periodicals which are not newspapers, but it is open to these shops to apply to the local authority to allow them to remain open until a later hour not later than 7 p.m. (or 8 p.m. on the late day) if local conditions make such a variation desirable.
§ Mr. George Hallasked the Home Secretary whether some extension beyond 6 p.m., under the Shop Hours Act, can be permitted to small hairdressing shops when they rely largely on evening trade for their livelihood?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe Order-in-Council which fixed 6 p.m. as the general closing hour also empowered local authorities to substitute an hour not later than 7 p.m., or 8 p.m. on the late day, for any class of2122W trade or business in any part of their area. If in any area hairdressers think they can make out a case for being allowed to open for the extra hour, it is open to them to make representations to their local authority.