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Justice 2 Committee

Justice 2 Committee endorses the Christmas Day and New Year's Day Trading (Scotland) Bill

CJ2005/2006 | 14 November 2006

A Member’s bill that aims to prevent large retail shops from trading on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day has received endorsement in a parliamentary report out today.

View the report

The Justice 2 Committee has, by majority, come down in favour of the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Bill, which is promoted by Karen Whitefield MSP.

The purpose of the bill is to prohibit shops exceeding 280 square metres in floor size from trading on both days. Smaller shops, restaurants, pubs, take-away eateries, registered pharmacies, and shops within airports, railway stations, ports and motorway service stations are exempt from the provisions of the Bill.

Committee deputy convener Bill Butler MSP said:

"The evidence presented to the committee is that both days are seen as special days on which people take time off to spend with their families and their communities.”

"The bill aims to protect the special nature of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day in Scotland .“

As part of its scrutiny of the bill the committee took oral evidence from witnesses including representatives from Debenhams, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW), VisitScotland and the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group.

The report states that it would be helpful if the Executive could come forward with its view on the bill as soon as possible.

Background notes

Committee members Bill Butler, Jackie Baillie, Colin Fox and Maureen MacMillan assented to the committee recommendation that the Parliament agree to the general principles of the Bill.

David Davidson, Stewart Maxwell and Jeremy Purvis dissented from the recommendation.

The contact for members of the media is:

Richard Holligan: 0131 348 5605
E-mail: richard.holligan@scottish.parliament.uk
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Justice 2 Committee contact details

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