During the short debate on the Second Reading of the Bill, the argument was a little one-sided.  I intervened in the speech of the minister replying to the debate to point out that, while I accepted there was a religious and social case for the Bill, there was also a social case on the other side.  “For some people, Christmas is an extremely lonely period and for them the opportunity to work is a way of social interaction.”  The minister took my point and, indeed, after the debate both he and the whip who had been on the front bench approached me independently to agree with my observation.  They pointed out that the argument applied more to people shopping than those working, a point with which I agreed: I phrased my comments the way I did because of the contents of the Bill. 

I accepted the case made for the Bill and made no attempt to delay it.  I just felt it was important that we acknowledge that for some people Christmas can be extremely lonely.  More and more people are living on their own – young as well as old (it is not just a consequence of an ageing population) – and Christmas day can resemble what Sundays used to be like: everything closed down, no mail, essentially little to do.  Sundays are no longer like that, thanks to the partial deregulation of Sunday trading. 

My point took the Bill’s sponsor by surprise.  “This is the first time that I have ever heard the argument.  I do not know what evidence there is to support that view.  I do not know whether the situation even exists.  Lonely people will find pursuits other than going to work.  Sometimes their loneliness is not taken away even if they are in a crowd.”  That last point is true and for those lacking company there is television and (for some) the Internet.  Nonetheless, I have little doubt that there are people, possibly a sizeable number, for whom Christmas Day is a lonely one.  I just felt at the time – and remain very much of the view today – that we  should not forget those who  are on their own at Christmas.