BBC NEWS | England | Cornwall (original) (raw)

Supermarket shoppers

Large supermarkets can only open for six hours on a Sunday

A Cornish MP has said supermarkets should not be allowed to open their doors on Easter Sunday.

The extension of the Sunday trading laws is currently being discussed by a cross-party panel, including South East Cornwall MP Colin Breed.

Big supermarkets want to open on Easter Sunday and also want to remain open on other Sundays for three more hours.

But Mr Breed said the panel is against any such changes, both for social and religious reasons.

He told BBC News: "I don't think they should be trying to steam-roller over every single aspect of our lives and we don't want them to squeeze out any more of the smaller shops.

"I see this campaign by the supermarkets to increase, yet again, their trading hours on a Sunday, as just a further erosion.

"They just want to get to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no matter what the religious holidays are."

The cross-party panel's examination is part of a government review of the 1994 Sunday Trading Act, which currently limits Sunday opening to six hours and excludes Easter Sunday.

In January, a Department of Trade and Industry spokesman said Britain now had a more multi-cultural society, with greater expectations by consumers.

But some retailers in Cornwall have said extending Sunday opening hours was not necessary and could have a negative impact on employees.