The introductory text describes it as "An Act to consolidate the Shops Acts, 1912 to 1938, and certain other enactments relating to shops.".

The Act dealt with hours of closing (not hours of opening), half-day holidays, employment conditions and with Sunday trading in England and Wales.

The Act provided a right to suitable seating for female workers.

Part IV of the Act (Sunday Closing) did not extend to Scotland.

[2] These exemptions applied to shops that were in airports, other than those not ordinarily accessible by those travelling to or from the airport by air, and exempts them from the provisions in Part 1 of the Shops Act 1950 regarding closing times.