Government urged to keep Sunday special

Both religious and secular groups have expressed concern over Chancellor George Osborne's announcement that in Wednesday's Budget he plans to lift Sunday Trading laws during the Olympic Games, in order to maximise profits.

Currently large stores in England and Wales can only open for six hours of continuous trading between 10am and 6pm on Sundays.

Speaking on BBC News, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, said: "Today, on Mothering Sunday, there are mums at home with their kids because Sunday trading (laws) means they can have the morning off. We should be very careful about breaking Sunday trading."

The Keep Sunday Special Campaign, which is supported by many businesses and church organisations said it totally opposes the plan, which it describes as unnecessary and "a cover for creeping deregulation".

The campaign says on its website: "David Cameron came into government promising to make this country the most family friendly in Europe. But over one million families have at least one parent working on both weekend days, meaning they have little time to spend with their children at a time when they are not at school.

"Research by the National Centre for Social Research has shown that Sunday working has a detrimental impact on fathers’ time with their children, especially on playing, reading and teaching.

"KSS has always promoted Sundays as a day for shared activities. No changes to Sunday Trading legislation are needed to enable all Olympic visitors to have a great day out enjoying time with family and friends. When did shopping become an Olympic sport? Why are the Olympics deemed to be special case?

"Nor will the proposed changes do anything to increase economic growth as all the evidence suggests that existing spending would not increase but simply be spread over a longer period. And many government services, both local and national, would need to function if there was further
deregulation.

"It is KSS’s view that primary legislation would be needed to change the law on Sunday trading. It would be shameful indeed if Parliament allowed a change to be pushed through in the context of the Budget, especially as there was consultation on Sunday Trading only last year which showed conclusively that there was no appetite to change the law."

For more information (and a petition) on Keep Sunday Special visit their website here: www.keepsundayspecial.org.uk/Web/Default.aspx