Supermarket adjudicator bill ‘rests’ with Norman Lamb, the Business Minister

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Last year NFU president Peter Kendall concluded:“It is hard not to detect the dead hand of the retailers at play behind the government’s reticence to establish an effective regime to police the groceries code.”The Fresh Produce Journal reports that West Midlands growers visited the House of Commons this week. The group of 50 included representatives from the National Farmers Union, Wychavon Council and Worcester University. They met MPs from the region and talked to DEFRA secretary of state Caroline Spelman.

Defra minister Jim Paice pledged to support the supermarket adjudicator bill, though added: “As for the groceries adjudicator it’s not my job, it falls with the department of business but as you know there is absolute commitment from government and we will be introducing one as soon as possible.”

The only references found to Mr Lamb’s activities in the matter online were the following exchanges recorded in Hansard on 28^th February 2012:

Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North asked how many meetings he has held with (a) the six largest supermarkets, (b) farmers’ representatives and (c) consumer groups on the introduction of a Groceries Code Adjudicator. 

Norman Lamb replied, “The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has not met any of these groups to discuss the Groceries Code Adjudicator. I am responsible for the Groceries Code Adjudicator and I plan to meet representatives of both retailers and suppliers in the coming months.”

Alex Cunningham then asked the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of (a) levels of bankruptcy of British dairy farmers and (b) the market power of the six largest supermarkets.

Norman Lamb replied: “The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has not made any assessment of these issues. The Competition Commission’s study of the groceries market, which published its final report in April 2008, considered the market positions of both dairy farmers and large supermarkets. Following this review a Groceries Supply Code of Practice was introduced, and the Government now intends to establish a Groceries Code Adjudicator to ensure adherence to the Code.”

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Has Norman Lamb met representatives of retailers and suppliers since February?