Adjournment debate on supermarkets and regional farming.

Adjournment debate on supermarkets and regional farming.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing this debate to take place. It is an important debate; it is a debate about the power of a supermarket and the future of farming in the United Kingdom. I am sure that the importance of the subject is agreed by nearly all parties...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing this debate to take place. It is an important debate; it is a debate about the power of a supermarket and the future of farming in the United Kingdom. I am sure that the importance of the subject is agreed by nearly all parties...

I could not agree more. My hon. Friend is right. The aim must be sustainable farming and reducing food miles. If we are serious about climate change and the future of farming, we must follow that local policy and ensure that farmers have a local market. Let us stop the...

I could not agree more. My hon. Friend is right. The aim must be sustainable farming and reducing food miles. If we are serious about climate change and the future of farming, we must follow that local policy and ensure that farmers have a local market. Let us stop the...

Absolutely. That is what the issue is about: paying a farm-gate price to ensure that farmers exist in the long term, and do not keel over in the short term. That is why the ombudsman, as recommended by the Competition Commission, will be responsible for investigating complaints that are levied...

Absolutely. That is what the issue is about: paying a farm-gate price to ensure that farmers exist in the long term, and do not keel over in the short term. That is why the ombudsman, as recommended by the Competition Commission, will be responsible for investigating complaints that are levied...

The Minister says that this is about ensuring fair competition. I think that competition failed in respect of the price that was being paid to farmers for milk. As one supermarket altered it, another followed, so the price went up for the consumer while the price being paid to the...

The Minister says that this is about ensuring fair competition. I think that competition failed in respect of the price that was being paid to farmers for milk. As one supermarket altered it, another followed, so the price went up for the consumer while the price being paid to the...

My hon. Friend says that we have many good things in Lancashire, particularly Lancashire cheese. If he will come up to Chorley and visit Pat's cheese stall on Chorley market and Mr. Brown the butcher, he will realise the quality of local produce.

My hon. Friend says that we have many good things in Lancashire, particularly Lancashire cheese. If he will come up to Chorley and visit Pat's cheese stall on Chorley market and Mr. Brown the butcher, he will realise the quality of local produce.

My hon. Friend is absolutely correct. The issue is the fact that the main, big supermarkets have not signed up. If they were to do so, a lot of the problems would stop. That is why it is important that we ensure that they get it right. Another example from...

My hon. Friend is absolutely correct. The issue is the fact that the main, big supermarkets have not signed up. If they were to do so, a lot of the problems would stop. That is why it is important that we ensure that they get it right. Another example from...

Of course. My hon. Friend is right. Although I would not stand up for the French farmers, they are to be envied for the way that they support each other. Carrefour, one of the biggest supermarkets in the world, ensures that its chain carries locally produced regional produce.

Of course. My hon. Friend is right. Although I would not stand up for the French farmers, they are to be envied for the way that they support each other. Carrefour, one of the biggest supermarkets in the world, ensures that its chain carries locally produced regional produce.

The Member for Heywood and Middleton, my good friend, is absolutely spot on. The issue is about challenging supermarkets and ensuring that we have quality produce on the shelves; and, yes, may we continue to do that. Research has shown that consumers want to buy local produce. They want to...

The Member for Heywood and Middleton, my good friend, is absolutely spot on. The issue is about challenging supermarkets and ensuring that we have quality produce on the shelves; and, yes, may we continue to do that. Research has shown that consumers want to buy local produce. They want to...

I could not disagree more. That is absolutely correct. If we are going to use—

I could not disagree more. That is absolutely correct. If we are going to use—

I absolutely agree with the hon. Gentleman. There are no two ways about it: the issue is about the word "local", and ensuring that it means local and guarantees sustainability in that community. It is about ensuring that local farmers and producers are protected and have a market on their...

I absolutely agree with the hon. Gentleman. There are no two ways about it: the issue is about the word "local", and ensuring that it means local and guarantees sustainability in that community. It is about ensuring that local farmers and producers are protected and have a market on their...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average farm gate price of lamb was in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average farm gate price of lamb was in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

People are concerned about where the money will come from. I think that we should have a windfall tax on the huge profits made by the energy companies. Is that an approach that the hon. Gentleman would consider?

People are concerned about where the money will come from. I think that we should have a windfall tax on the huge profits made by the energy companies. Is that an approach that the hon. Gentleman would consider?

Of course fuel poverty affects rural areas, but it affects rural and urban areas alike. No Member has missed out on it; it affects every constituency in the United Kingdom. Does the hon. Gentleman agree, however, that the villains of the piece are the energy companies, with their immoral profits...

Of course fuel poverty affects rural areas, but it affects rural and urban areas alike. No Member has missed out on it; it affects every constituency in the United Kingdom. Does the hon. Gentleman agree, however, that the villains of the piece are the energy companies, with their immoral profits...

I believe that we have to get prices down for consumers. The price of energy needs to drop. I am concerned about fuel poverty, and the constituents whom I represent, but I am also concerned about business, which cannot afford energy prices either. Prices have gone through the roof, and...

I believe that we have to get prices down for consumers. The price of energy needs to drop. I am concerned about fuel poverty, and the constituents whom I represent, but I am also concerned about business, which cannot afford energy prices either. Prices have gone through the roof, and...

I totally agree with that, and with the point that my hon. Friend makes about the Minister. We want to express our real concerns about prices.

I totally agree with that, and with the point that my hon. Friend makes about the Minister. We want to express our real concerns about prices.

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Janet Anderson). Something does not look quite right; something is beginning to smell fishy about the way in which eaga operates. What causes me concern is that eaga says, "Don't worry; we tender,...

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Janet Anderson). Something does not look quite right; something is beginning to smell fishy about the way in which eaga operates. What causes me concern is that eaga says, "Don't worry; we tender,...

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for those guidelines. The two issues are interrelated: fuel poverty and people's ability to afford their energy bills mean that they need new boilers, and that is part of what has been hit. The fact is that we are putting those people into fuel poverty...

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for those guidelines. The two issues are interrelated: fuel poverty and people's ability to afford their energy bills mean that they need new boilers, and that is part of what has been hit. The fact is that we are putting those people into fuel poverty...

I welcome this important Fuel Poverty Bill. The Government have difficulties with the issue, but this is about their committing themselves to overcoming those difficulties. Of course, it is easy to say, "Let's kill the Bill off on a Friday", but that is not the way forward. If there are...

I welcome this important Fuel Poverty Bill. The Government have difficulties with the issue, but this is about their committing themselves to overcoming those difficulties. Of course, it is easy to say, "Let's kill the Bill off on a Friday", but that is not the way forward. If there are...