Natural Resources

Stop supermarket bullying
23 January 2012

It's four years since the Competition Commission said the UK needed a supermarket watchdog.

In that time, supermarkets have still been able to:

Transfer 'excessive risks and unexpected costs' to UK and overseas farmers and suppliers.
Contribute to farm employees working long hours for poverty wages in unsafe conditions.
Undermine farmers' ability to invest in sustainable farming practices.

It's time for the Government to stop supermarket bullying.

Please ask your MP to write to the Minister responsible, The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, calling for:

A Bill introducing a supermarket watchdog to be included in the next Queen's Speech, or time found for it before then.
Powers for the watchdog to fine supermarkets and launch investigations based on credible information from third parties (e.g. trade associations, unions and charities).

It's a three step process:

Find your local MP
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Send a letter by email, fax or print out to post*

Step 1 of 3: Find your local MP

Type your postcode in the box below and press Go:

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I would like to ask you, as my MP, to help ensure that a Bill introducing a supermarket watchdog (or 'Groceries Code Adjudicator', GCA) is included in the next Queen's Speech.

This is a matter of urgency. It is four years since the Competition Commission concluded that supermarkets transfer 'excessive risks and unexpected costs' to their suppliers and that this behaviour also harms consumers.

In that time, many UK and overseas farmers have continued to face uneconomic prices and unfair terms for their produce. Agricultural employees have continued to work long hours for poverty wages in unsafe conditions. And many farmers have been prevented from investing in sustainable farming practices.

The introduction of a GCA has cross party support and is backed by a broad coalition of civil society, including Friends of the Earth, War on Want, ActionAid, National Farmers Union, Traidcraft, the Food Ethics Council and the Fairtrade Foundation. A recent poll found that 84% of consumers support the introduction of a watchdog.

A draft GCA Bill already exists and has been examined by two select committees.

I would be grateful if you could write to the Minister responsible, The Rt Hon Vince Cable MP, asking him to ensure that:

- A Bill introducing a Groceries Code Adjudicator is included in the next Queen's Speech, or parliamentary time found for it before then. 
- The Adjudicator has the power to fine supermarkets.
- The Adjudicator can launch investigations based on credible evidence from third parties (e.g. trade associations, unions and charities).

I would also greatly appreciate it if you would consider other actions in Parliament, such as tabling questions to Ministers and raising this issue in Business Questions.

* Some MPs do not have an email address and/or fax number. Only contact methods that are available will be shown.

Natural Resources

Stop supermarket bullying23 January 2012

Step 1 of 3: Find your local MP

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Stop supermarket bullying
23 January 2012