Church will accept more shopping time on Sundays
THE Church of England could accept a temporary relaxation of Sunday trading laws as part of an effort to boost the economy and allow more time for key workers to shop while social distancing is in place, a senior bishop has signalled.
Dr Alan Smith, the Bishop of St Albans, said the coronavirus pandemic meant “we must all think about innovative and flexible ways to protect our local economies”, but warned that any proposal must provide safeguards for workers, including an opt-out for those who want a “day of rest” on Sundays.
His intervention came as Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary, privately lobbied for a temporary lifting of the current rules, which mean large shops can only trade for six hours on Sundays. Last month Mr Sharma confirmed that the issue of Sunday trading was “very actively under review”, after 40 MPs, led by Nusrat Ghani, a former minister, said the existing law “makes overcrowding more likely and restricts customers’ access to essential items when they are needed”.
The move is backed by several large retailers including Morrisons, which has said it would use extended hours to open an hour earlier on Sundays to serve NHS staff.
The Church of England is firmly opposed to a permanent relaxation of Sunday trading rules, on the basis that as many workers as possible should be given a “common day off ” each week. But it backed a temporary relaxation during the London Olympics in 2012, which led to a 3.2 per cent rise in sales in September 2012.
Usdaw, the shopworkers’ union, opposes even a temporary lifting of the rules, claiming that such a move would “make the busy times earlier and the quieter times longer”.
Dr Smith, who speaks on behalf of the Church in the House of Lords, said: “We all understand the importance of a vibrant and thriving High Street.
“Covid-19 has brought with it unprecedented economic challenges for many businesses. Shop workers are the backbone of any retail sector and this pandemic has highlighted this to all shoppers.
“We have always wanted to protect workers’ mental well-being and it is clear having a day off in common with the rest of our communities is key to those protections.
“The opportunity for a day of rest for all workers to spend time with loved ones is a basic right. So, while the novel coronavirus means we must all think about innovative and flexible ways to protect our local economies, it must not be at the expense of workers.”
Dr Smith added that the current proposals mooted by Mr Sharma “lacked transparency”.
“Time frames for this decision, the suitability for non-busy stores, safeguards for workers unable or unwilling to work on Sundays and financial compensation are all left unspecified,” he warned.
Addressing members of the Commons business select committee last month, Mr Sharma said: “Temporary changes were made during the time of the Olympics as well. Colleagues across the House will want to reflect on the fact that temporary measures may well assist our constituents.”
Ms Ghani, a member of the committee, said: “The existing restrictive Sunday trading laws seem out of step as we change our lives to limit the spread of the virus.
“For many of our key workers, Sunday is the only time they aren’t on the front line and they should not be standing in long queues for their oncea-week shop.”
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “The existing laws on Sunday trading still apply. We continue to have regular conversations with the food sector and will keep measures under review.”