Are Sunday Trading Hours Set To Increase?

MPs and council leaders are proposing extended Sunday trading hours to "help struggling high streets".

16:32 22 February 2016

MPs and council leaders said that opening hours for shops in England and Wales are out of date and need to be relaxed. They are now proposing extended Sunday trading hours that could boost job prospects and help shop compete with online firms.

 

In a letter, the group said: "Yet whilst times and attitudes have changed, Sunday Trading laws have stayed the same.”

 

"Our high streets and physical retailers have been left trying to compete with 24/7 online shopping, a task which is made harder by a shortened trading day at the weekend, just when many families might hope to go shopping together."

 

"Ultimately, we believe that the best way to determine whether large shops are open for longer than six hours on a Sunday is to hand this decision to local communities.

"It is for this reason that we back the proposed change in England and Wales which would update our trading laws for the 21st Century."

 

However, some oppose the proposals. General secretary John Hannett said: "Retailers can trade, customers can shop, staff can work; whilst Sunday remains a special day, different to other days, and shop workers can spend some time with their family.”