LONDON (Alliance News) - Large retailers in England and Wales may be allowed to extend their Sunday trading hours under a new proposal revealed by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne during his Summer Budget speech on Wednesday.
Current laws allow smaller shops to open all day on Sundays but larger stores are only allowed to trade for six hours between the hours of 1000 and 1800. Under Osborne's proposal, powers over Sunday trading hours will be devolved to local councils and mayors, who will have the authority to set the hours locally in their areas.
The move could see retailers and supermarkets with large stores over 280 square metres opening their doors to customers all day on Sundays.
Marks & Spencer Group PLC Chief Executive Marc Bolland told journalists on Tuesday that the retailer had not been part of "extensive lobbying" for the relaxation of Sunday trading laws, but said that if laws were to be relaxed it would "welcome" the changes and would make use of opening hour extensions in stores in areas where they are wanted.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for J Sainsbury PLC said on Wednesday that the current set up is a "sensible British compromise which works for both customers and colleagues", adding that it would review opening times store by store following changes to Sunday trading.
"Inevitably the competitive landscape would lead to us opening our superstores for longer on a Sunday," Sainsbury's said.
Shares in Marks & Spencer were trading down 1.9% at 525.00 pence Wednesday afternoon, while Sainsbury's shares were down 0.9% at 255.14p.
By Karolina Kaminska; karolinakaminska@alliancenews.com @KarolinaAllNews
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