Sunday trading extension on hold


Plans to extend Sunday trading in England and Wales have been put on hold by the government in the face of a defeat in the House of Commons.


Chancellor George Osborne announced in his summer Budget that the government was going to the give counties and metro mayors the power to set the Sunday trading hours in their areas.


However, the government backed down with the opposition parties and Tory rebels in the Commons set to vote down the proposals.


Shopworkers’ union Usdaw welcomed the pause. General secretary John Hannett said: “The Sunday Trading Act is a great British compromise, which has worked well for over 20 years and gives everyone a little bit of what they want. Retailers can trade, customers can shop, staff can work; whilst Sunday remains a special day, different to other days, and shopworkers can spend some time with their family.”


The union pointed out that shop staff already work long hours at weekends, with over half working every Saturday and three-quarters having to work some Sundays. 


The government denied making a U-turn on the proposals. A prime minister’s spokesperson said: “We launched a consultation on this in the summer. That consultation has recently completed. It’s right we consider that consultation before we consider the next step.” In fact the consultation closed on 16 September.


Asked when “the next step” would be announced, the spokesperson said: “In due course.”


www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34780273


www.usdaw.org.uk/About-Us/News/2015/November/News-that-Sunday-trading-changes-have-been-put-on


http://news.sky.com/story/1585201/pm-accused-of-u-turn-over-sunday-trading