HC Deb 13 July 1995 vol 263 c762W
Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what meaning is attached by his Department to the terms(a) tradesman, (b) certificer, (c) workman, and (d) labourer as used in article 1 of the Act for the better observation of the Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday, AD 1695; [33517]

(2) what meaning is attached by his Department to the term, works of necessity and charity, as used in article 1 of the Act for the better observation of the Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday, AD 1695; [33515]

(3) what meaning is attached by his Department to the terms, (a) drover, (b) horse-courser, (c) waggoner, (d) carrier, (e) butcher and (f) higler as used in an Act for the better observation of the Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday, AD 1695; [33514]

(4) what meaning is attached by his Department to the terms, (i) publickly cry (ii) chew forth, (iii) expose to sale, (iv) merchandises and (v) chattels as used in article 1 of the Act for the better observation of the Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday, AD 1695. [33516]

Mr. Moss

The Sunday Observance Act (Ireland) 1695 is an archaic piece of legislation which is inevitably couched in language that is out of date. It is not appropriate, therefore, to attach in the abstract, particular meanings to the terms used in the Act. Such determination would be relevant and meaningful only in the context of a particular issue or case.