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Grocery Trade: Competition

Volume 495: debated on Wednesday 8 July 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Competition Commission on its proposed grocery supply code of practice. (284687)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not discussed the proposed Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) with the Competition Commission.

In its inquiry into the groceries market the Commission found that one of the features that adversely affected competition in the market was the exercise of buyer power by certain grocery retailers with respect to their suppliers of groceries, through the adoption of supply chain practices that transfer excessive risks and unexpected costs to those suppliers. The GSCOP is being introduced by the Competition Commission, which is an independent public body, in response to this finding.