HC Deb 02 March 1989 vol 148 cc258-9W
15. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the number of local authorities who made no prosecutions for breaches of the Sunday trading law in 1988.

Mr. Renton

Information about the number of local authorities which made no prosecutions for breaches of the Sunday trading law is not held centrally. Decisions on whether or not to prosecute in any given case are a matter for the local authorities concerned.

33. Mr. Duffy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last circulated guidance to district councils on their duty to enforce the law on Sunday trading.

Mr. Renton

I am sure that local authorities are well aware of their responsibilities under section 71 of the Shops Act 1950. We have not circulated guidance to councils on this matter.

70. Mr. Robert G. Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in response to his request for views on the reform of Sunday shopping.

Mr. Renton

Since I last answered a question on this subject, from the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien) on 2 February 1989 at column415, we have received 133 written representations broadly in favour of Sunday trading and 155 against.