Government must ensure fair trade for farmers at home and abroad - Burt

10.03.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 22nd Jun 2006

Liberal Democrat Small Business Spokeswoman Lorely Burt MP today challenged Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ben Bradshaw, to state what the Government is doing to ensure that there is fair trade for both British and foreign farmers.

In response, the Government minister referred to the Competition Commission and said that they were looking into the problem.

Mrs Burt highlighted the fact that only 26p in a pound spent on food at a supermarket represents the cost of the food.[1]

Commenting Mrs Burt said "British farmers are being squeezed by large supermarkets which are driving down farm gate prices. The cost of food is an ever decreasing proportion of the price we pay at a supermarket checkout.

"The Government must make sure that our home producers get a fair deal. I hope the Competition Commission will take action to combat the extraordinary pressures big supermarkets can bring to bear on farm gate food prices."

[1] Andrew Purvis, 'Loaded! Why the supermarkets are getting richer and richer', Observer 25/01/04