SUPERMARKET CODE OF PRACTICE

Early day motion 187, tabled 25 November 2004 by Andrew George (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 104 members.

That this House looks forward to the publication of the Office of Fair Trading audit of supplier contracts with supermarkets under the Code of Practice; recognises that the OFT report into the Code, published in February 2004, concluded that it had failed to effectively protect suppliers from unfair trading practices; agrees with the analysis of the failure of the Code set out in EDM 94 (Food Supply Code of Practice); notes with concern that the adverse effects are felt most by small and family farmers in the UK and overseas, by small independent retailers and by people without access to private transport; and calls on the Government to draw up a new strengthened and legally-binding Code of Practice with clear terms for which it is the duty of a regulatory authority to proactively monitor; to monitor and publish reports on other aspects of the grocery market; and to review the need for a Food Trade Ombudsman.

Signatures by party: Labour 54, Liberal Democrat 34, Conservative 4, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 3, DUP 2, Scottish National Party 2, UUP 1.