To ask the Minister for Communities to outline any work being undertaken by his Department to assess public support for the extension of Sunday trading hours.

Mr Lyons

My Department has responsibility for the legislation that governs Sunday shop opening hours. Any change to the hours set out in the Shops (Sunday Trading &c.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 would require primary legislation. I have no plans to review the hours prescribed in legislation and can confirm that no work is being undertaken to assess public support for the extension of Sunday trading hours.

Mr Lyons

That was one consultation in one area, and the Member has rightly highlighted the fact that retail workers were evenly split on it. It is important that we recognise the concerns that many people have. Often, those who were opposed were the most passionate about their view, because they would be more impacted on than anybody else. It is clear that there is no consensus on the issue among those who are involved, which includes the 40% of businesses that are not seeking a change. Given the time that remains in the mandate, that is not the right priority for us.

Mrs Dillon

Does the Minister agree that the 'good jobs' Bill would help to protect the retail workers whom he referenced by unionising businesses and ensuring that workers get their rights, regardless of the changes that may happen?

Mr Lyons

If she is in favour of bringing forward some of the measures that will, she thinks, help and that have support across the Chamber, Sinn Féin should bring to the Executive a proposal to split the Bill. Those measures that —. [Inaudible.]

Mr Lyons

If the Member wants to listen, she will hear that we have a way forward here. We can split the Bill. Those measures that have wide public support — [Interruption.]

Mr Speaker

Order.

Mr Lyons

The measures that have public support can go through. The Members opposite have been really passionate about some of the measures that have huge and widespread support across the Chamber. Therefore, in the meantime, why not proceed with the measures on which there is agreement? That could be done quickly by urgent procedure. If that were to happen —

— it would get broad support quickly across the Chamber. Of course, this is what Sinn Féin does: it interrupts when it does not agree with what is being said. That is a sensible position that can be adopted, and I encourage Sinn Féin to do that.

Mr K Buchanan

Minister, there seems to be a lot of misinformation on Sunday trading hours. We heard 57% mentioned by Ms Bradshaw: that is a change from 15% in Belfast. Are trade unions for the change? Is the position in Northern Ireland an anomaly?

Mr Lyons

The consultation that was carried out by Belfast City Council related to proposals to extend Sunday opening hours throughout the city during the summer months. The consultees were not asked whether they supported the extension on a permanent basis or whether it should apply beyond Belfast City Council boundaries, so the consultation responses cannot be interpreted as evidence that people across Northern Ireland support such an extension. I am, however, aware of the views of businesses, retailers and, in particular, retail workers who would be expected to work on Sundays. As has been pointed out, the views are much more divided from that perspective, with approximately 40% of businesses and retailers opposed to the proposals and retail workers evenly split. As for how we compare with elsewhere, our Sunday trading hours, relatively speaking, mirror those in much of the rest of the UK. However, other countries, such as Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Norway, have an even more restrictive system. You often hear the argument that we are among the most restrictive in Europe, but that is simply not the case. As I said, it is not a priority for me as we head towards the end of the mandate.

Mr Carroll

Minister, do you share the concerns expressed by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW), which represents most of those retail workers, that allowing larger shops to open for longer on Sundays would have a negative impact on retail workers, their families and our communities and put more pressure on low-paid workers, in that they would feel as though they had to work rather than spend time with their family, with their community or, indeed, if they wish, at their place of worship?

Mr Lyons

My goodness, Gerry Carroll and I are on the same page for once. Can we all take a note of the date and time? [Laughter.]

Yes, there are times when we will find ourselves in agreement, and this is one of those times. He is right to stand up for the views of retail workers not just in the city but across Northern Ireland. I, for one, am delighted that I was here for that little moment of history.

Mr O'Toole

One of the points that some small retailers make about Sunday trading, whether or not this is borne out, is that, rather than supporting the high street, it would simply benefit big retailers. What practical progress are you making on schemes to support small businesses on the high street, such as the Living over the Shop (LOTS) scheme, given that we know that one of the things that can help to revitalise town centres is more people living in town centres, because they can avail themselves of local retail and hospitality? What practical action are you taking, and what money are you assigning to that end?

Mr Lyons

Across Northern Ireland, you will see examples of how the Department has invested in urban regeneration schemes. I will be in Strabane later this week. Work has been done in north Belfast, in Glengormley, and we have seen schemes in other parts of Belfast.

We have seen a number of smaller grant schemes to help improve town centres across Northern Ireland. Increasingly, in some of the regeneration schemes — the Member mentioned the Living over the Shop scheme — housing-led regeneration is helping our town centres. Help specifically for the businesses to which the Member referred is not primarily a matter for my Department, but we are playing our role in helping to improve public realms and town and city centres more generally. I look forward to further announcements on that in the days to come.