Small store owners have slammed the government for attempting to bring an end to existing Sunday trading rules under the guise of reducing red tape.

James Lowman, CEO of the Association of Convenience Stores, was furious that Sunday trading had been thrown in alongside examples of burdensome legislation on the government's Red Tape Challenge website, which calls for consumers to give their views on ­regulations.

"There is no compelling case for making change to Sunday trading regulations," Lowman blasted. "It is not a red tape burden, it's a simple and understandable policy."

According to Lowman, there is no convincing evidence that liberalisation would lead to consumers spending more in retail or the creation of more jobs.

"The Red Tape Challenge is about looking at all the regulations affecting retail. There are a range of laws that cause burden and cost for retailers, but Sunday trading isn't one," he said.

"We are confident that this fact, and the significant opposition to changes reflected on the website already, will mean that the government will not need to tinker with a law that works well," he added.

Launched by the business secretary Vince Cable, the Red Tape Challenge kicked off last week with retail. The consultation will run until 5 May, after which ministers will spend three months analysing feedback. So far, there have been more than 1,600 responses to Sunday trading alone.

One said: "I work for a large retail company and to be forced to work on Sunday would seriously damage my relationship with my wife and kids."

Read more
Lowman: jobs claims are supermarket spin (5 March 2011)
Small shops call for status quo on Sunday trading regulations (10 April 2010)