Government consults on devolving powers over Sunday trading rules
Local authorities and metro mayors could be given the power to determine Sunday trading rules, under a consultation launched this week by the Government.
The consultation paper, which applies to England and Wales, puts forward two options:
- Devolving powers to local areas, for example to metro mayors, through ‘devolution deals’; and/or
- Devolving powers to local authorities more generally across England and Wales.
The paper noted that the current Sunday trading rules were established more than 20 years ago in the Sunday Trading Act 1994, prior to the internet coming of age.
The existing rules limit the opening hours of large stores – those with a relevant floor area over 280 square metres / 3000 square feet – to six hours on a Sunday. Smaller stores are able to open all day.
The Department of Business, Innovation & Skills and the Department for Communities and Local Government said local authorities could be given the discretion to zone which part of their area would benefit from the longer hours.
The consultation said: “Extending Sunday trading rules is estimated to result in benefits equivalent to £1.4 billion per year. Extending Sunday trading hours would improve productivity by freeing retailers to make better use of large stores, allowing them to sell more without a proportionate increase in costs. However there are strong and diverse views as to whether removing Sunday trading restrictions is the right thing to do.”
It added: “Consistent with its focus on localism, the Government believes that local areas should have the opportunity to decide for themselves what the right approach to Sunday trading is in their area.”
It is not proposed to change the rules relating to Sunday trading on Easter Sunday nor trading on Christmas Day.
Communities Minister Brandon Lewis said: “This government is determined to devolve powers previously held in Whitehall to local people. That’s why we want to give local leaders the power to decide whether Sunday trading is right for their area, and to give their retailers the option to stay open for longer.”
Business Minister Anna Soubry said: “Modern Sunday trading laws have the potential to create thousands of jobs across the country and help British businesses to thrive. [This] consultation gives business, shoppers and interested groups the chance to have their say on Sunday trading.”
The deadline for responses is 16 September 2015.
