Arrest the Threat of Ghost Towns: MSP’s Call
THE announcement on 9 May that the grocery market is to be investigated in the wake of concerns about supermarkets’ abuse of power has been warmly welcomed by Mid Scotland & Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell, who has been calling for the move for nearly two years.
However,he believes that it is crucial that long term interests of the public - the regeneration of urban areas, protection of environment, fair trade for producers - remain the driving factors, rather than an obsessive focus on lowering prices.
Mr Ruskell, Green speaker on the environment, has consistently supported the campaign by Scotland’s dairy farmers to secure a fair market return from supermarkets, for milk and dairy produce. He said: “This news will be greeted as a sign of hope by farmers, high street businesses, and numerous other campaign groups who have been witnessing the demise of small shops and family farms as a result of the abuse of power by the giant supermarkets.
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Greens want to see a diverse, mixed grocery market that is focussed on meeting the needs of the public, including producers, rather than one based on the short-sighted pursuit of profit at any cost.
“Scotland’s health, environment, and the future of our agriculture industry is at stake. Nothing less than a thorough investigation, allowing for confidential submissions from producers and suppliers, will suffice. This is most definitely only the start, rather than the end, of the changes needed to save the Scottish high street, and create trading conditions which enable family farms to maintain viable businesses”
Unfair on Producers
Mr Ruskell, Deputy Convenor of the Parliament’s Environment and Rural Development Committee which is currently holding an inquiry into the food supply chain, especially the role of the supermarkets, added: “We have yet to draw our conclusions in this inquiry, but I hope that the parliament will also send a strong message to the supermarkets that the imbalance of power they hold is unfair on producers who are being paid a pittance for their produce, and that they must change their practices.”
“Aggressive supermarket competiton is forcing many independent retailers out of business. Supermarkets are radically changing the landscape of our small towns and, in some cases, turning them into ghost towns - it is time that the complex monopoly that the supermarkets hold is challenged.”
Greens are urging the Competition Commission to:
- scrap the weak supermarket Code of Practice and bring in much stricter rules to protect farmers and other suppliers
- recommend strengthening of planning rules to make it easier for local authorities to protect smaller retailers and encourage real choice
- consider measures to stop the use of price flexing and below cost selling
- review business rates with a view to creating a more level playing field between large out of town superstores and high street stores .
- confirm that convenience stores are part of the grocery market, so if supermarkets want to buy c-store chains their overall market share will have to be considered
- investigate supermarkets increasing share of non-food items such as books and clothes.
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