UK legislators have called for the second reading of a Bill that would maintain restrictions on Sunday retail trading in England and Wales.
However, an official said the Government was likely to block the measure which was introduced under a special procedure by a Labour Party opposition legislator. Government officials have made clear they want to open the way for Sunday trading.
The Bill now goes for a line-by-line examination by an all-party committee of legislators.
Today's Bill enshrines present legislation, but would leave the way clear for small traders to open shops while outlawing trading by the major chains.
In the past few months many supermarkets have defied the law and stayed open on Sundays.
A European Court judgement delivered last month said the present law didn't breach EC legislation.