The MP Albert Owen's Private Members’ Bill, which if enacted would establish an independent grocery market ombudsman to oversee the Grocery Suppliers’ Code of Practice (GSCOP), has successfully negotiated its first Parliamentary stage. After a debate of almost four hours today (5 March), the Bill received a vote of 44 in favour with none voting against, allowing it to proceed from its Second Reading to the next legislative stage, consideration in Committee.
We believe an Ombudsman acting as a proactive enforcer of a strengthened GSCOP would give suppliers the confidence to invest and innovate and produce a greater range of quality products for consumers, and is therefore clearly in consumers’ best interests.
The NFU has urged Members of Parliament from all parties to support the Bill, and despite a couple of speeches questioning the justification for an Ombudsman and exhibiting unequivocal support for the big supermarkets, an overwhelming majority of MPs spoke in support of the need for independent and robust oversight of the relationship between retailers and suppliers. Indeed, the main spokespeople for each of the main parties threw their weight behind the Bill, guaranteeing a resounding victory in the voting lobby.
The Bill is now awaiting more detailed examination in Committee, and will be allocated a date soon. Unfortunately, due to the curtailed length of the current Parliamentary session because of the general election, there is a strong likelihood it will fail to complete its legislative stages before Parliament is dissolved.
Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see such a high level of cross-party support for a campaign which has been vigorously championed and promoted by the NFU in recent years, and there is every chance that the Bill will be resurrected in future Parliaments if Government fails to legislate appropriately on the matter.
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