AQW 21502/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 06/07/2021
Answered On Date: 28/07/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) to detail any plans he has to pursue a change to Sunday trading legislation to enable business owners to increase trade on a Sunday; and (ii) for his assessment of current Sunday trading rules.

Answer:

The Department for Communities has responsibility for the Shops (Sunday Trading &c.) Order 1997 which governs Sunday trading. This allows small shops unrestricted opening on Sundays while large shops (ie those with a floor area exceeding 280 square metres) are restricted to opening for a maximum of 5 hours between 1pm and 6pm. Certain large shops are exempt from these restrictions and large shops in areas designated as holiday resorts (by district councils) may open at any time on up to 18 Sundays (other than Easter Sunday) between 1 March and 30 September in any calendar year.

Any change to these provisions would require legislation and there are no plans to introduce any such change at present.