Plan to ban Christmas Day opening

Views of businesses are being sought

Supermarkets will be banned from opening on Christmas Day under plans being drawn up by ministers, it has emerged.

The Department of Trade and Industry wants all large stores to stay closed on 25 December.

At least one supermarket chain opened its doors last Christmas Day and ministers are worried that others will follow.

They want to ensure large stores remain closed for at least one day a year, partly to ensure staff get a break.

Shop employees currently only have the right to refuse to work if Christmas Day falls on a Sunday.

There is not enough time for the plan to be brought into effect this year.

'Fantastic news'

But the DTI hopes parliamentary time can be found to bring it in by Christmas 2004.

A DTI spokesman said: "We have been consulting on this and the government intends to ban large stores from opening on Christmas Day."

He stressed the plan was not motivated by religious considerations.

"There is a diversity of religious groups in this country. But Christmas Day is a major part of the UK's holiday culture," he added.

Shopworkers' union Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) welcomed the development.

Its general secretary Sir Bill Connor said: "We have campaigned long and hard for this change to the law.

"This is fantastic news for Usdaw members who work extremely hard and under great pressure in the run-up to Christmas.

Survey

"Legislation is essential to prevent large stores opening and guarantee shopworkers can spend Christmas Day with their families."

The government began its consultations on the proposal in April.

Employment Relations Minister Alan Johnson said then: "Regulation will ensure that the special nature of Christmas Day is preserved and that shop workers in large stores are protected from being forced to work."

A recent survey of just over 100 retail stores carried out on behalf of the government showed 92% did not intend opening on Christmas Day.

However, 19 firms said whether they opened would depend on what competitors were doing.

Under the proposals, large shops are defined as those of more than 3,000 square feet in size.