§ 85. Mr. StanbrookTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on his policy towards the enforcement of the Shops Act 1950 in the light of recent court decisions about the extent to which such enforcement is compatible with the treaty of Rome.
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§ The Attorney-GeneralEnforcement of the Shops Act 1950 is, by virtue of section 71 of that Act, the duty of local authorities, which have the necessary powers. I have accordingly taken the view that action on my part to enforce the Act will only rarely be appropriate. Last month, however, I wrote to the Association of District Councils to request authoritative information about the scale of the enforcement effort. Whether the provisions of any part of the Act may be found to be incompatible with the United Kingdom's obligations under the treaty of Rome is not a question which affects the responsibility for enforcement of the Act.