ACS Submission Makes Case for Retention of Sunday Trading Act
13 Apr 2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), which has led the small store sector in opposing the extension of Sunday trading hours, has submitted its views to the Government’s consultation on this issue, which closes today.
In a letter sent direct to Secretary of State Alan Johnson, ACS Chief Executive David Rae has called on the Government to abandon plans for changing the Sunday Trading Act. Mr Rae has told the Secretary of State: “Any extension of Sunday trading hours for larger shops will have a detrimental and irreversible impact on small shops, communities and consumer choice.”
Mr Johnson had announced in November 2005 that the Government would commission a cost / benefit analysis for liberalising the Sunday Trading Act. This was followed by the announcement of a formal consultation and a stakeholder conference to be held on 10 May. Following the consultation and the publication of the cost / benefit analysis, the Government will announce whether it will legislate for changes to the Act, which currently restricts stores over 3,000 square feet to opening for a maximum of any six consecutive hours between 10am and 4pm on a Sunday.
Mr Rae said: “Our case remains very simple. Firstly, any liberalisation of the Sunday Trading Act would put the livelihoods of independent convenience stores in jeopardy. With the grocery market so heavily skewed in favour of the major multiples, the Sunday Trading Act offers a balance which has helped many independent stores to stay in business. The additional sales that convenience stores make when larger outlets are shut on a Sunday are absolutely vital to their survival.
“Secondly, all the evidence from consumers suggests that there is no public appetite for changes to Sunday trading restrictions. Our own research shows 68% of consumers do not want to see changes to the Act, and other surveys give the same message. The only research presented to the contrary was conducted on the basis of entirely flawed methodology – surveying customers in shopping centres on a Sunday - and should be regarded as irrelevant.
“Thirdly, the notion that liberalising the Sunday Trading Act would be a deregulatory measure is entirely false, and we have made this clear in our letter to Mr Johnson. This is an important policy issue, and it should be regarded as such. ACS supports measures which reduce the bureaucratic burden on retailers, but this simply is not such an issue.
“Two notable developments have taken place since we first presented our views to the DTI in December. We have seen the OFT refer the grocery market to the Competition Commission for a full inquiry which is likely to take up to two years. It would be unfortunate timing by the Government if they chose this moment to tinker with an important part of the regulatory framework for the grocery industry.
“The second important development in recent months has been the growing momentum against change to the Sunday Trading Act, within Parliament, the media and among a wide range of interested parties. Over 200 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion opposing liberalisation of Sunday trading laws, and a recent poll showed that a large majority of MPs oppose change to the Act. More and more newspapers are taking an editorial line against liberalisation.
“We hope that the Government considers the responses to its consultation and follows the weight of public, Parliamentary and stakeholder opinion by maintaining the Act as it currently stands.”
In a letter sent direct to Secretary of State Alan Johnson, ACS Chief Executive David Rae has called on the Government to abandon plans for changing the Sunday Trading Act. Mr Rae has told the Secretary of State: “Any extension of Sunday trading hours for larger shops will have a detrimental and irreversible impact on small shops, communities and consumer choice.”
Mr Johnson had announced in November 2005 that the Government would commission a cost / benefit analysis for liberalising the Sunday Trading Act. This was followed by the announcement of a formal consultation and a stakeholder conference to be held on 10 May. Following the consultation and the publication of the cost / benefit analysis, the Government will announce whether it will legislate for changes to the Act, which currently restricts stores over 3,000 square feet to opening for a maximum of any six consecutive hours between 10am and 4pm on a Sunday.
Mr Rae said: “Our case remains very simple. Firstly, any liberalisation of the Sunday Trading Act would put the livelihoods of independent convenience stores in jeopardy. With the grocery market so heavily skewed in favour of the major multiples, the Sunday Trading Act offers a balance which has helped many independent stores to stay in business. The additional sales that convenience stores make when larger outlets are shut on a Sunday are absolutely vital to their survival.
“Secondly, all the evidence from consumers suggests that there is no public appetite for changes to Sunday trading restrictions. Our own research shows 68% of consumers do not want to see changes to the Act, and other surveys give the same message. The only research presented to the contrary was conducted on the basis of entirely flawed methodology – surveying customers in shopping centres on a Sunday - and should be regarded as irrelevant.
“Thirdly, the notion that liberalising the Sunday Trading Act would be a deregulatory measure is entirely false, and we have made this clear in our letter to Mr Johnson. This is an important policy issue, and it should be regarded as such. ACS supports measures which reduce the bureaucratic burden on retailers, but this simply is not such an issue.
“Two notable developments have taken place since we first presented our views to the DTI in December. We have seen the OFT refer the grocery market to the Competition Commission for a full inquiry which is likely to take up to two years. It would be unfortunate timing by the Government if they chose this moment to tinker with an important part of the regulatory framework for the grocery industry.
“The second important development in recent months has been the growing momentum against change to the Sunday Trading Act, within Parliament, the media and among a wide range of interested parties. Over 200 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion opposing liberalisation of Sunday trading laws, and a recent poll showed that a large majority of MPs oppose change to the Act. More and more newspapers are taking an editorial line against liberalisation.
“We hope that the Government considers the responses to its consultation and follows the weight of public, Parliamentary and stakeholder opinion by maintaining the Act as it currently stands.”