AQW 18474/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 06/05/2021
Answered On Date: 18/05/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether extended trading hours has been considered to assist with the recovery of retail and to reduce the potential for crowding.

Answer:

The main legislation governing retail trading hours for which I am responsible is the Shops (Sunday Trading &c.) (NI) Order 1997 (the 1997 Order). This allows small shops unrestricted opening on Sundays while large shops (i.e. those with a floor area exceeding 280 square metres) are restricted to opening for a maximum of five hours between 1.00pm and 6.00pm.

I understand that some district councils have taken the decision not to pursue enforcement of Sunday trading hours thereby allowing retailers to trade for longer hours.

The Minister for Economy, Diane Dodds, MLA, leads on the economic recovery.