Sunday Trading Restrictions To Be Suspended

Sunday trading restrictions will be suspended during the 8 weeks of the Olympics, starting July 22, the government has revealed.

George Osborne proposed in his Budget yesterday that emergency legislation should be implemented to allow large shops in England and Wales to trade for more than six hours.

"When millions of visitors come to Britain... we don't want to hang up a closed for business sign," he told MPs.

The idea has meet with criticism though. Campaign group Keep Sunday Special called the plan "profoundly worrying", and shopworkers' union Usdaw warned that its members "vehemently opposed" the idea.

John Hannett, Usdaw general secretary said: "The government's own consultation just last year showed there is no widespread support from either retailers or the general public for change.

"Deregulation would have a very detrimental impact on the lives of millions of shopworkers.

"Shopworkers are entitled for their views to be heard before any decisions of this importance are made."

Ministers though hope to see the proposals passed by Easter.

"It would be a great shame - particularly when some of the big Olympic events are on Sunday - if the country had a closed for business sign on it," Osborne told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said there should be proper consultation and careful consideration before implementing change.

"George's people have told the newspapers this is an experiment to change it for the future, breaking up centuries of tradition," he said.

By temporarily suspending these rules, the government hopes visitors heading to London for the Olympics will take advantage of longer opening hours, boosting flagging retail figures.

The Treasury is expected to closely monitor the suspension's effects and has not ruled out a permanent change.

(H)