Bruce and McInnes: New Supermarket Ombudsman must have teeth and resources to be effective

12.00.00am GMT Fri 15th Jan 2010

Commenting on the announcement from the UK Government that they have accepted the Competition Commission's recommendation to establish an independent body as a 'supermarket ombudsman', Liberal Democrat parliamentarians for the North East have welcomed the decision but have called on the Government not to settle for half-measures.

Liberal Democrat MP for Gordon, Malcolm Bruce said:

"This announcement is as welcome as it is overdue. I have joined Liberal Democrat colleagues across the UK in calling for the establishment of a genuinely independent Ombudsman for some time.

The current situation is not working and there needs to be an authority which oversees the relationships throughout the grocery supply chain and enforces the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP). The crisis in the Scottish dairy sector is just one example of why an ombudsman has become essential."

Liberal Democrat MSP for the North East Alison McInnes added:

"I wonder how many farm businesses have gone to the wall in Aberdeenshire in the time that Labour Ministers in Westminster have been dithering on this issue.

"Having now accepted what everyone else could see as inevitable they must now act without further delay to set up the supermarket ombudsman and to makes sure it has the teeth and resources it needs to do its job properly." 

ENDS

Notes-

A copy of the Government's written ministerial statement from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS) can be seen online at - www.berr.gov.uk