§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received over the current late night and Sunday trading 231W practices of small shops; and whether he has any plans to protect small shops from any prosecution under the Shops Act 1950.
§ Mrs. RumboldIn the past three months we have received 13 petitions, with 11,285 signatures, from shopkeepers in support of the OPEN campaign to allow small convenience shops to trade in their full range of goods from early until late on seven days a week. We have also received eight letters of support through Members of Parliament.
The Government have no plans for early legislation to repeal the Shops Act 1950.