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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Director General of Fair Trading has taken, and what arrangements the Director General has in place, to monitor the compliance with and effectiveness of the Supermarket Code of Practice; whether the arrangements for monitoring have changed since the publication of the Government's strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food; and if she will make a statement. [97588] Ms Hewitt: [holding answer 12 February 2003]: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) visited relevant trade bodies to explain how the Code of Practice would work, and to encourage them to bring any problems to the attention of the OFT. The Code also provides for the independent dispute mediator to report annually to the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) on his or her activities, and to supply information requested by the DGFT concerning individual cases where he or she is considering taking action. In the context of the Government's strategy on Sustainable Farming and Food, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has proposed that relevant trade bodies advise it at six-monthly intervals on the operation of the Code. The OFT will publish an annual report on how the Code has been working, particularly in relation to dispute resolution. The OFT will soon be beginning a review of the Code in preparation for its first annual report and will be contacting all interested trade bodies and the supermarkets to obtain views on the Code's operation.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

97588; 400 c74-5W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Codes of practice Competition Farmers Monitoring Prices Monopolies Retail trade Supermarkets Agricultural products

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk