§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions have been brought under the laws governing Sunday trading since they were last amended.
§ Mr. RaisonThe Shops Act were consolidated in 1950. The information available is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" under offence classification 179—table 1 (a) of the volume for 1978, Cmnd. 7670. This shows that, in total, over the years 1950–78 there were over 7,000 successful prosecutions under the Sunday trading laws.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the laws governing Sunday trading are being thoroughly and correctly enforced in all parts of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. RaisonThe Shops Act 1950 confers upon local authorities certain discretionary powers—in regard, for example, to the opening of shops on Sundays at holiday resorts—which need not be exercised uniformly. The enforcement of the Act is a matter for the local authorities and we believe they are well aware of their responsibilities for it.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will have early discussions with the appropriate retail associations, trades unions, local authority associations and other interested parties with a view to amending the laws concerning Sunday trading.
§ Mr. RaisonI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hereford (Mr. Shepherd), on 19 June—[Vol. 986, c. 607]—that we do not expect there to be an early opportunity for Government legisla-822W tion on this subject. We would certainly consult all interested parties before introducing such legislation.