Councils free to change Sunday trading laws from the autumn

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Local authorities and city mayors in England and Wales will from autumn 2016 be given the power to extend Sunday trading hours, allowing them to choose areas where shops can stay open for longer, the Government has confirmed. Currently, large shops – those that are more than 280 square metres (3,000 square feet) – are permitted to trade on Sundays for a period of six hours, between 10am and 6pm. Small shops can open all day, and there are no trading restrictions in Scotland. Under government proposals, shop workers in England, Scotland and Wales will also be given “greater freedoms” in relation to Sunday working. They will be able to opt out of Sunday working by serving just one month’s notice. Currently, employees who do not want to work on Sundays must give three months’ notice to their employer. Employees will also be given a new right to opt out of working additional hours. Business secretary Sajid Javid confirmed the proposals last week to relax Sunday trading laws, following a Government consultation last year. The changes will be made through the Enterprise Bill. Javid