Government launches Sunday trading consultation

The government is inviting retailers to have their say on its plans to relax current Sunday trading laws by giving local authorities the power to allow stores to open for longer with the launch of a six-week consultation.

The consultation, which will run until September 16, is prosing two options for relaxation, to either “devolve powers to locals,” for example to elected metro mayors through “devolution deals” and/or to “devolving powers to local authorities more generally across England and Wales”.

The government is calling for businesses, shoppers and other interested groups to the consultation to share their views on the scheme, which could give local authorities the power to allow certain parts of their areas to trade for longer, allowing them to boost trade in town centres or high streets.

The existing Sunday trading laws were introduced more than 20 years ago, before high-street shops faced competition from online retailers, the government states. In addition, the move is to give UK cities the power to compete for international tourism, while increasing consumer choice, following cities such as Paris, which recently extended Sunday trading opening hours, and Dubai and New York where the shops open into the evening 7 days a week.

The consultation asks three main questions: Should local areas have the power to extend trading hours on Sundays? If the power is devolved, who do you think should have the power to change Sunday trading rules? And how would you be impacted by local changes to Sunday trading rules?

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.

“We have already taken a range of measures to boost the Great British high street and now we are giving local areas another tool to encourage shoppers to the town centre and get shops to grow and thrive.

Business minister Anna Soubry added: “Modern Sunday trading laws have the potential to create thousands of jobs and help British businesses to thrive. [This] consultation gives businesses, shoppers and interested parties the chance to have their say on Sunday trading.”