Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004
Encyclopedia
The Christmas Day Act 2004 (c 26) is an Act
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
. It prevents shops over 280 m²/3,000 sq ft from opening on Christmas Day in England and Wales
. Shops smaller than the limit are not affected.
The Act was introduced to the House of Commons by Kevan Jones
, MP for North Durham
as a Private Member's Bill
on 7 January 2004.
The aim of the Act was to keep Christmas Day a "special" day, whereby all major retailers would be closed. Although it was traditional for major retailers to close on 25 December, some retailers, such as Woolworths, began to open some stores in the late 1990s. Both religious groups and shop worker unions were against the idea of Christmas openings, leading to pressure on the Government to pass legislation to prevent the practice.
In 2006, the Scottish Parliament debated a similar law that would apply to shops in Scotland. A key difference was the proposal for the Scottish law to apply on New Year's Day
too.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
. It prevents shops over 280 m²/3,000 sq ft from opening on Christmas Day in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
. Shops smaller than the limit are not affected.
The Act was introduced to the House of Commons by Kevan Jones
Kevan Jones
Kevan David Jones is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for North Durham since 2001.-Early life:...
, MP for North Durham
North Durham (UK Parliament constituency)
North Durham is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
as a Private Member's Bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
on 7 January 2004.
The aim of the Act was to keep Christmas Day a "special" day, whereby all major retailers would be closed. Although it was traditional for major retailers to close on 25 December, some retailers, such as Woolworths, began to open some stores in the late 1990s. Both religious groups and shop worker unions were against the idea of Christmas openings, leading to pressure on the Government to pass legislation to prevent the practice.
In 2006, the Scottish Parliament debated a similar law that would apply to shops in Scotland. A key difference was the proposal for the Scottish law to apply on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
too.
External links
- The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004, as amended from the National Archives.
- The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004, as originally enacted from the National Archives.
- Explanatory notes to the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004.
- Department of Trade and Industry Factsheet