Alternative Schemes for Reform of Law Relating to Sunday Trading

Part of Orders of the Day — Sunday Trading Bill – in the House of Commons at 6:45 pm on 8 December 1993.

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Photo of Janet Anderson Janet Anderson , Rossendale and Darwen 6:45, 8 December 1993

I am extremely concerned about jobs. That is precisely why I shall be supporting the six-hour option. We estimate 80,000 Sunday-only jobs would be lost under the more restrictive option.

We are told that the restrictive option will help small shops. They should try telling that to small shops that depend on their Sunday trade and would be forced to shut on Sunday. It will destroy the attractiveness of tourist destinations and rip the heart out of ethnic minority shopping areas which are dependent on the percentage of their groceries goods. The idea that browsing in a second-hand book shop on a Sunday afternoon is a threat to civilisation is absurd.

Some people will say that, if Members of Parliament vote for Sunday shopping, they will be giving in to commercial lobbying.