ACS

In a move welcomed by lobby group the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the Competition Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has confirmed that Sunday Trading restrictions will not be changed without reference to full Parliamentary debate and a vote of MPs.

There had been speculation that a regulatory reform order could have been used by the Government to avoid full debate on this subject. However, in a written answer to a Parliamentary question posed by John Grogan MP, Mr Sutcliffe has stated that:

Ministers have yet to take a view on the review of Sunday shop opening hours. However if we were to relax the current restrictions, it would be by primary legislation.
John Grogan MP, who is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Small Shops said: “Liberalisation of Sunday opening hours for the supermarkets is now much less likely to happen. If the Government had opted to go down the regulatory reform route it could have packed a committee and avoided a vote on the floor of the House of Commons. On the other hand, primary legislation is likely to be at least as controversial amongst MPs as Mrs Thatcher’s ill-fated shops bill was, particularly as 239 MPs have now signed a Commons motion calling for the status quo to be maintained. I think the political mood is now very different from when the consultation started with ministers increasingly aware that public opinion is becoming more questioning and critical of the likes of Tesco and Asda.”

David Rae, Chief Executive of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said: “There is mounting evidence against changes to the Sunday Trading Act, with the public making it clear that they do not wish to see changes to the law. The confirmation that the Government would only progress reform through primary legislation is important given the very clear signals they are receiving from Parliament. The message from a majority of MPs is that proposals for reform would be opposed. Against this background and in the absence of a credible case for change, we believe the Government should leave the law as it stands.”

ACS has consistently made the case for the maintenance of Sunday trading laws on the basis of the impact it would have on small shops. For convenience stores, Sunday is a crucial trading day, and if large stores were to open for longer it would have a devastating impact on many local shops.