The government’s controversial plans to try and expand Sunday trading hours have passed a vote at the Committee of the whole House today.

The proposals were passed unanimously and the focus now moves to Report Stage with Labour saying today they would oppose the plans then and the SNP saying they would reconsider the proposals at that stage.

Responding to the outcome, CARE Chief Executive Nola Leach said the plans had not been subject to adequate scrutiny.

She criticised the government’s procedural approach in reintroducing these plans to a bill that has already passed through the Lords and early Commons stages.

CARE CEO Nola Leach said:

“From a procedural point of view, there has been a lamentable lack of proper transparency.

“The list of procedural failures is longer than your average Sunday shopping list.

“Not only has the Lords been denied the chance to properly scrutinise the plans, but the Commons have been denied a Second Reading debate on extending Sunday trading.

“Instead the government deliberately shoehorned the proposals into the Enterprise Bill in the full knowledge that doing so would deny Peers and MPs adequate opportunities to examine the proposals.

“Expanding Sunday trading is not in the Conservative manifesto and some of the government’s arguments simply do not stack up.

“The government is putting the interests of big businesses ahead of smaller businesses and is ignoring the negative impact these plans will have on families and workers. MPs should kick the government’s plans into the long grass at Report Stage.”

Notes to Editors:

For more information please contact James Mildred on 07581153693 / 02072274731 or email james.mildred@care.org.uk

CARE is opposed to the proposed extension to Sunday trading:

http://www.care.org.uk/news/latest-news/blatant-lack-transparency-over-sunday-trading-plans

http://www.care.org.uk/news/latest-news/sunday-trading-plans-back-agenda