How it will respond to Supermarkets: The code of practice and other competition issues, published by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) on 22…

Answered Asked by Richard Lochhead SNP Lodged 29 Mar 2005

The question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to Supermarkets: The code of practice and other competition issues, published by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) on 22 March 2005, and what steps are being taken to protect the interests of food producers and farmers.

The answer

Answered by Ross Finnie on 19 Apr 2005 · 21 days after it was lodged, on time

The report published by the Office of Fair Trading on 22 March is not yet the final advice to ministers. The OFT is seeking further hard evidence from suppliers about breaches of the Supermarket Code of Practice. We shall take careful stock of the final report which OFT makes to Ministers and we shall have an input into the response. When I meet the major retailers I shall continue to emphasise how seriously the Executive views the importance of maintaining a sustainable food chain with healthy trading relationships between suppliers and retailers.

In the Official Report

No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-15641 by reference.