Gwyneth Dunwoody, Lab, Crewe and Nantwich

Writing in the House Magazine, Dunwoody says: "Christmas day working! It is like something from a Charles Dickens novel. Although, even Scrooge saw the error of his ways and gave his staff Christmas day off.I believe that Christmas day is special and should remain so, that is why I am supporting the campaign of Usdaw, the shopworkers' union, and promoting the Christmas Day (Trading) Bill. It is the one day of the year that the vast majority of people can completely escape the daily grind. Christmas day is particularly special for children and one that should not be missed by any parent.In recent years there has been a steady increase in the number of shops opening on Christmas day. Shopworkers are left exhausted from the pre-Christmas frenzy and the after-Christmas sales. They deserve at least one day off to spend with their families. After all, Christmas is a time for families.At present there is no law to protect shopworkers on Christmas day, unless it falls on a Sunday. This is an anomaly that I intend to correct by ensuring that large stores should stay closed no matter what day of the week Christmas falls on.A number of retailers have made it clear that they are seeking 24-hour opening, 365 days per year - complete deregulation. It is a cut-throat business that runs on very tight margins and they will take any opportunity to out-flank a competitor. First it was Sunday opening, then Bank Holiday opening, then 24-hour opening and then "browsing time" on a Sunday. Now they want Christmas. One Usdaw member recently commented to me that he thought if retailers did get complete deregulation they would only go back to the government and ask them to create an eighth day in every week.Let's leave Christmas day working to the likes of Noel Edmonds."

House of Commons

First reading: January 17 2001

Second reading: March 16 2001

• Committee: 1st dayMarch 28 2001 (am)
• 2nd day: April 4 2001

The bill fell at the end of the 1997-2001 Parliament