Business secretary Alok Sharma has begun a review of Sunday trading restrictions to enable grocers to operate more effectively during the coronavirus outbreak and its aftermath.

Sharma told Parliament’s business committee last week that he was considering relaxation of the rules, which limit big stores to six hours of trading on Sundays, the Financial Times reported.

During the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, grocers faced a rush of panic shopping and cut opening hours to enable replenishment and cleaning. While stockpiling has moderated since, changes introduced in store, such as social distancing and management of footfall, make it more difficult to trade in the limited Sunday hours.

Sharma told the committee that he could see the rationale of relaxing the rules, which is opposed by shopworkers’ union Usdaw.

He said: ”There were temporary changes around the time of the Olympics. I think trade unions, people across the House [of Commons], would want to reflect on the fact that temporary measures may well assist our constituents.

The big grocers do not all agree on the need for longer Sunday hours. Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl are all supportive.

The Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Tesco – all of which operate extensive convenience chains, which are not limited by the Sunday trading rules – are less keen on change.

Sunday trading hours were originally relaxed in 1994 after a lengthy campaign by retailers, but the issue deeply divides MPs and the industry.