Sunday Trading (London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) Bill [Lords] (Allocation of Time)

Thérèse Coffey Excerpts

Monday 30th April 2012 Commons Chamber

[Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con)]

My hon. Friend the Minister knows that I have concerns about the Bill, and I wish that more time had been set aside so that amendments about geography could have been debated rather than being perceived as wrecking amendments.

[Kevin Brennan]

The hon. Lady says that she has concerns. Has she a free vote on the matter?

[Dr Coffey]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, every vote in the House is a free vote.

I stress to my hon. Friends on the Front Bench that the amendments that some of us thought about tabling would have tried to be helpful. As was mentioned earlier, we are considering a festival of sport—one of the greatest things that will ever happen in our country. The route from Stratford or Pudding Mill takes people through a shopping centre, and it would be odd if they could not buy something on their way home, but I am not sure what excuse there is for some of the shopping centres further afield to be open.

I understand that the matter is important for the Government and I did not table any amendments because I did not want to be perceived as trying to wreck the Bill, but I hope that any other debate on Sunday trading hours will be given time for hon. Members to discuss the subject properly.

Question put.