0

Call for all Sunday trading restrictions to be lifted


March 25, 2020 - 868 views

Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to consider a temporary change to the Sunday trading regime amid the Covid-19 pandemic to help NHS staff and other key workers.   

Currently some supermarkets are allowing doctors, nurses and all other essential workers into their stores to shop from 9am on a Sunday, before they open to the public at 10am.

However, while the early shoppers can gather their supplies whilst shelves are well stocked and there are no crowds, due to existing trading laws they are unable to pay for their goods until 10am.

Darren has therefore written to the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, calling for this restriction to be lifted during the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: “Whilst it is great that supermarkets are opening their doors earlier to NHS staff and other key workers during this time of crisis, it is frustrating for all those using this service that they have to wait until 10am to actually pay for their goods.

“They are calling at the shops often after long shifts and just want to pick up what they need and get home as quickly as possible.

“The suggestion of a temporary change to the Sunday trading regime to enable early hours trading to buy essential goods during the coronavirus pandemic seems to be a very sensible idea and I have therefore called on the Welsh Government to consider adopting this approach.

“It is crucial that we do all that we can to make life easier for our key workers whilst they are working in such pressured times”.