NFU Scotland is urging Members of Parliament from all parties to support MP Albert Owen’s Private Members’ Bill to establish a grocery market Ombudsman when it comes before the House of Commons for second reading tomorrow (Friday, 5 March 2010).

Ahead of the Bill going before the House, Union Vice-President Allan Bowie will attend the Grocery Market Action Group Reception for MPs in Westminster tonight (Thursday, 4 March) to encourage political support.

Speaking from the Houses of Parliament, Mr Bowie said:

“We are delighted that, after long years of lobbying, we finally have an improved code of conduct for retailers, launched in February, and the Government has accepted a Competition Commission recommendation to establish an Ombudsman to police the grocery supply chain in the UK.   That is good news for the whole food supply chain, from producers and processors all the way through to consumers.

"While the new supermarket code of practice is stronger and is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, without an independent Ombudsman in place to enforce it, the code runs the risk of simply repeating the failures of its predecessor.    This Private Members Bill gives Westminster the opportunity to short cut the planned consultation process and have the Ombudsman in place sooner rather than later.

"It is reassuring that the UK Government has already accepted the need to establish an Ombudsman and that this mirrors the apparent positions of the main opposition parties.  With everyone, bar certain retailers, agreeing that there needs to be a check in the food supply system; this should encourage members of all parties to put their weight behind this Bill.  

“If the Bill is unsuccessful in this political term then it is imperative that the momentum behind the creation of a supermarket ombudsman is not lost and it must be an absolute priority after the general election for whatever party or parties may come to office.”

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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006