Large stores will not be allowed to open on Christmas Day, when the government amends the law in time for December 2005.
Department of Trade and Industry secretary, Patricia Hewitt, said: "We can’t change the law in time for this Christmas but we hope to change the law in time for next year in relation to large stores opening on Christmas Day."
Currently, the 1994 Sunday Trading Act outlaws stores over 3,000 sq ft are from opening on Christmas Day when it falls on a Sunday, but not when it falls on other days of the week.
Hewitt said she hoped that major retailers would "observe the spirit of Christmas day before the law is changed".
Last week the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers presented a petition to Downing Street signed by over 250,000 people, pushing for a ban on larger stores opening on Christmas Day.
Department of Trade and Industry secretary, Patricia Hewitt, said: "We can’t change the law in time for this Christmas but we hope to change the law in time for next year in relation to large stores opening on Christmas Day."
Currently, the 1994 Sunday Trading Act outlaws stores over 3,000 sq ft are from opening on Christmas Day when it falls on a Sunday, but not when it falls on other days of the week.
Hewitt said she hoped that major retailers would "observe the spirit of Christmas day before the law is changed".
Last week the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers presented a petition to Downing Street signed by over 250,000 people, pushing for a ban on larger stores opening on Christmas Day.
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