New bill on Sunday trading

A NEW Sunday Trading Bill is in the offing. A number of the 72 Tory rebels who voted against the bill last month have agreed to the idea of watered-down legislation.
Under the compromise bill, gardening centres and small shops would be allowed to open. But there remains disagreement over some stores which flout the current law. The new Tory caucus would like to see DIY shops open, but would want big carpet and furniture stores shut on Sundays.
Ivor Stanbrook, MP for Orpington, hopes to introduce a ten-minute rule bill on Tuesday aimed at pressurising the Government to reconsider the issue, despite the fact that its own bill, allowing total deregulation, was thrown out after its second reading.
"We came to a conclusion as to the form of the bill that we would have supported if the government had produced it in the first place", said Mr Stanbrook.
The bill is expected to have the backing of the Keep Sunday Special Campaign, which is supported by Cardinal Hume, who has made it clear that although he opposed the C;overnment bill he was not against some relaxation of the law regulating Sunday trading.