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Supermarket Regulator

My hon. Friend is right that the knock-on effect on the farming and dairy industries is profound, which is why it is important that the matter is reviewed. Small shops are the very life blood of our community. They provide opportunities, jobs and vital services to local people. Small businesses are finding it difficult to compete on price to offer the variety of goods that citizens want. I quote Mrs. D. Raj, who owns a business in Rushey Mead in Leicester, which is in my constituency. She said:"““While supermarkets may be creating jobs on the one hand, they cause businesses to lose their livelihoods so that they can make . . . profits. We have to make sure that Leicester offers variety””" of choice to consumers. Consumers are spending on average 25 per cent. more on identical goods in supermarkets than they would on the street market. The street market is a popular option among my constituents because they enjoy the personal service. The street market allows one to get to know people, enjoy that personal relationship and get to know the traders. One can also get products in the packaging and size that one wants, whereas everything in supermarkets is pre-packaged. Pre-packaging limits choice and is wasteful to the environment. My hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor) raised the problem of out-of-town shopping centres. I shall cite one example tonight: Tesco and its development at the Hamilton district shopping centre in my constituency. My predecessor as Member of Parliament for Leicester, East, Mr. Peter Bruinvels, and I were united by our concern about the way in which the Hamilton estate was developing. Tesco wanted to build a superstore. As soon as it received planning permission, it dug in its heels and delayed other shops from being established. It wanted to dominate; it did not want a partnership. A review of the planning laws, which my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster) mentioned, would prevent people and businesses from operating in such a way and disrupting the process for others.