Minister Backs Industry Drive For Fair Trade

UK - Supermarkets are endangering British pork production, says Defra's Lord Rooker. However, the Government can't interfere with retail pricing structures.
calendar icon 3 April 2008
clock icon 2 minute read

A report in the Yorkshire Post, quotes the Minister, one of Secretary of State Hilary Benn's senior deputies, as supporting the pig farmers' campaign for more money.

He said the Government was also in support of producers and told the House of Lords that if the supermarkets wanted to see the end of British pork production, then they were going exactly the right way about it.

"We fully support the claims of the industry that they should get a fairer share of the price ... but we ourselves can't interfere with that," he said.

He was responding to Lord Livsey of Talgarth (Lib Dem), who asked: "Isn't it time a ban was put in place on supermarkets selling a product at less than the price of production?"

Lord Rooker said: "That is very unsatisfactory. But at the end of the day, the market will decide. The Competition Commission is looking at these issues."

View the Yorkshire Post story by clicking here.

Further Reading

- Read our reports on the industry protests by clicking here.
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