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A quarter of a million people say no to shops opening on Christmas Day
15 December 2003
Over 250,000 people have backed leading retail trade union Usdaw in calling for a ban on larger stores opening on Christmas Day in England and Wales.
Usdaw General Secretary Sir Bill Connor and Kevan Jones MP will present a petition to Downing Street tomorrow (Tuesday). The petition, signed by over a quarter of a million people, calls for legislation to ban stores larger than 280 square metres from opening on Christmas Day.
Kevan Jones, Labour MP for Durham North, is to introduce a Private Member's Bill that should see legislation introduced in time for Christmas Day 2004. The first reading of his Christmas Day (Trading) Bill is scheduled to take place in the House of Commons on 7th January.
Usdaw has long waged a campaign to ban larger stores from opening on 25th December so that shopworkers can be guaranteed the day off to spend with their families.
Kevan Jones' Bill will correct an anomaly in the Sunday Trading Act 1994. This Act only banned larger stores from opening on Christmas Day if it falls on a Sunday.
Although not many larger stores have opened on Christmas Day in the past, shopworkers genuinely fear that it is only a matter of time before it becomes commonplace - and that, as there would not be enough volunteers to work, many would be forced to do so.
Sir Bill Connor said today: "A public consultation was launched by the Government in April 2003 on proposed new regulation of Christmas Day trading and 97 per cent of respondents supported keeping Christmas Day special, agreeing that larger shops should remain closed. Usdaw now has over 250,000 signatories to our petition calling for legislation to ensure this happens.
"Kevan Jones' Private Member's Bill will give MPs the opportunity to pass legislation backing such overwhelming public opinion and we urge them to do that."
Notes:
- Kevan Jones' Private Member's Bill applies only to England and Wales. Karen Whitefield MSP will introduce a Private Member's Bill in the Scottish Parliament, calling for a ban on larger stores opening in Scotland on Christmas Day and, in addition, on New Year's Day.
- Photocall: Sir Bill Connor and Kevan Jones MP will be available for interview/ photographs at 10am tomorrow (Tuesday 16th December 2003) at Downing Street, London.
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