§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the current round of discussions with interested bodies on Sunday trading to conclude.
§ Mr. RumboldI hope to have concluded my current programme of separate discussions with the wide range of interest groups on their proposals or positions on reform of the Shops Act 1950 early next year. When that programme is complete, we shall consider what further consultations may best promote the development and agreement of acceptable proposals for reform.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings he or Ministers or officials in his Department have held in the last six months regarding Sunday trading; and if he will list(a) the dates of such meetings and (b) the bodies represented on each occasion.
§ Mrs. RumboldFollowing is the information requested in relation to meetings in or connected with my programme of separate discussions with interested bodies on possible ways of reforming the law on Sunday trading:
Date of meeting Body represented 5 June Shopping Hours Reform Council 13 June Sort Out Sunday 20 June Lord's Day Observance Society 27 June National Federation of Meat Traders 2 July GMB 9 July Keep Sunday Special Campaign 11 July Lord's Day Observance Society 17 July British Tourist Authority/English Tourist Board 24 July Association of District Councils 24 July Churches Together in England Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland Free Church Federal Council 31 July Shopping Hours Reform Council 7 August OPEN (Outlets Providing for Everyday Needs) 22 October Institute of Safety and Public Protection 24 October British Retailers' Association 6 November Association of Private Market Operators 6 November Keep Sunday Special Campaign 11 November Board of Deputies of British Jews 19 November Retail Consortium Given the general interest in the subject of Sunday trading, it would be impracticable to maintain a record of all other meetings involving Ministers or officials in which the subject has arisen.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will initiate a publicity campaign to remind companies of the requirements of the law on and the need to observe the law in respect of Sunday trading;
2W(2) what advice his Department offered to companies considering opening on Sunday in contravention of current legislation prior to 27 November.
§ Mrs. RumboldCompanies themselves, in consultation as necessary with their legal advisers, are responsible for understanding the law on Sunday trading and for their conformity with it, as they are in respect of any other relevant law. It was not and is not appropriate for us to issue advice or guidance on this to companies, by a publicity campaign or otherwise. The statement by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 27 November at column 913 confirmed the understanding of the law—that it is not in suspense, and that its enforcement is for local authorities—which we had previously given to those who have asked us for that.