Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark has welcomed the House of Commons vote against extending Sunday trading hours. “I am pleased that MPs have decided to protect the existing arrangements,” he said. The Government proposal, contained in the Enterprise Bill, was voted down by 317 votes to 286 after 27 Conservative MPs rebelled. The proposal, which was opposed by the bishops of England and Wales, would have allowed councils to decide whether to let large shops stay open for more than six hours on a Sunday. The Government claimed that this would bring economic gains. But in an open letter published last week, Christian leaders including Archbishop Smith denied that there would be any such benefit. The leaders – from six different denominations – said deregulating Sunday trading would disrupt family and community life, and would put employees under pressure to work on Sundays. Archbishop Smith said the existing arrangements “meet consumer needs while recognising the unique and important atmosphere of Sundays.” He said: “There is little evidence that further deregulation would bring any tangible benefit to the UK and today’s debate highlighted how it would negatively impact upon family time, community cohesion and faith groups.” The amendment was defeated after David Burrowes MP, a Conservative backbencher, put down an amendment to remove the Sunday trading plans from the legislation. Labour and the SNP voted for the Burrowes amendment along with the Conservative rebels. Business Secretary Sajid Javid said the result was “extremely disappointing”. The Sunday trading Bill was not the only defeat for the Government last week. In the House of Lords peers voted twice in favour of changes to the Immigration Bill opposed by ministers. One change would allow asylum seekers the right to work if their claims have not been processed for six months. The other allows migrant domestic workers to change their employer without deportation. Catholic peer Lord Alton said the first change would end the “enforced workhouse destitution” faced by asylum seekers. “How many of us could exist on just over £5 a day while an asylum application was being considered?”