SUPERMARKET PROFITS

Early day motion 1227, tabled 21 April 1998 by Lord Tyler (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 43 members.

That this House welcomes the March 1998 inquiry by the BBC Radio 4 programme Farming Today into retail profits on beef sales; notes that on the bullock particularly examined the farmer incurred a loss of ú32 while the retailer made a potential gross margin of ú881 (120 per cent); observes that the major supermarket chains continue to report record profits; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to initiate a comprehensive investigation of anti-competitive tendencies and excessive profiteering in the food retail sector, at the expense of both the primary producer and the consumer.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 23, Labour 10, UUP 5, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 1.