§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the extent of the restrictions on Sunday trading in Portugal; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI am awaiting the relevant information and will reply as soon as possible.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the extent of the restrictions on Sunday trading in Spain; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI understand that shops in Spain are now free to choose their own opening hours and days. They may therefore open on Sundays, though not many do so.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the extent of the restrictions on Sunday trading in Belgium; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI understand that Sunday trading is permitted in Belgium. Belgian law stipulates that shops must close for one day a week, and that day is negotiated between management and staff. Many small food shops and home equipment stores open on Sunday.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the extent of restrictions on Sunday trading in Denmark; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI understand that Sunday trading in Denmark is generally restricted to certain goods. The Consumer Association is in favour of more liberal trading hours, and some illegal trading takes place.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the extent of restrictions on Sunday trading in France; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI understand that in France there are no legal restrictions on shop opening hours; the Code du Travail stipulates that shop employees must have one day 219W off per week and this should usually be Sunday. In some sectors—for example, food—another day is given instead of Sunday. Some chain stores in urban areas have begun to open on Sundays in recent years.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the extent of restrictions on Sunday trading in Germany; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI understand that Sunday trading in the Federal Republic of Germany is limited to certain goods. There is a degree of public demand for longer or more flexible opening hours, and also resistance from trade unions and retail trade organisations.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the extent of restrictions on Sunday trading in the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThere are no restrictions on shop opening hours in the Republic of Ireland except for a very few outdated and unenforced local restrictions. I understand that there is no move by any interested party to impose restrictions and that there is general satisfaction with the present situation.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the extent of restrictions on Sunday trading in Italy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI understand that Sunday trading in Italy is largely prohibited. There is public demand for a liberalisation of trading hours.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the extent of the restrictions on Sunday trading in the Netherlands; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI understand that Sunday trading is restricted in the Netherlands to four Sundays a year, but that there are demands from shoppers and traders alike for shop opening hours in general to be extended, which are being actively considered by the Government.