§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what resources he has made available to local authorities in Wales to enable them to tackle breaches of the law by large commercial organisations;
(2) whether he will make it his policy to offer additional resources to local authorities in Wales to enable them to tackle breaches of the legislation regarding Sunday trading by major retail organisations;
(3) what guidance he or his Department has offered to local authorities in Wales on their responsibilities in regard to the enforcement of the legislation which regulates Sunday trading;
(4) what assessment he has made of the impact in Wales of large stores and multiple-outlet retail firms opening on Sunday in contravention of the law during December.
§ Mr. David HuntEnforcement of the law is a matter for local authorities. It is for them to decide how to discharge their duties under the Shops Act 1950.
The provisional local authority revenue settlement for 1991–92 allows for total standard spending of £2,433 260W million—some 8 per cent. above authorities' 1990–91 budgets. I would expect authorities to be able to meet any additional costs arising from Sundary trading enforcement from within that total.