Superstore Sunday trading hours to be further relaxed

In a lastminute change the government has revealed plans to devolve Sunday trading hours, in spite of warnings that the measures will do further harm to independent high street retailers by favouring large of out-of-town stores.

During a debate of the Enterprise Bill in parliament on Tuesday, business secretary Sajid Javid said an amendment to the Bill will allow local councils to allow larger stores to open for longer than the currently permitted six hours.

Labour accused the government of “gross abuse of power” for failing to publish the proposals in the Bill put before MPs.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said the changes "would actually damage small high street stores, as trade would get diverted to large out-of-town supermarkets".

A survey by the ACS of local councils shows extended Sunday hours would be applied to out-of-town parks, hurting high streets.

He added: “Not a single company has reported in its latest trading update that the current Sunday trading regulations are a barrier to growth in their business, and there is no evidence that extended Sunday opening hours generate any additional sales. Extended Sunday opening hours would in fact lead to a net loss of jobs as small stores lose out to large stores.”

The government has still not published its response to the consultation on deregulating Sunday trading hours.