31st October 2007

Greens are anger by the Commissions' illogical, inconsistent and ill-informed report that suggests we need more supermarkets.

'More supermarkets' is the call this week from the Competition Commission, despite the chair claiming he is “not happy” with the effects of large supermarkets on suppliers. The Commissions' illogical, inconsistent and ill-informed report suggests we need more supermarkets, when what we should be doing is shifting to more local and organic production.

The Competition Commission has repeatedly shown its impotency where supermarket regulation is concerned and simply refuses to accept the reality that these superstores are a drain on our societies and on our environment - and often lead to higher prices and less consumer choice.

Three UK supermarkets now control almost 25% of the UK's clothing market and this is growing rapidly, forcing smaller retailers out of business. Meanwhile the four largest supermarkets account for nearly 75% of all grocery sales at our supermarkets and convenience stores. They depend massively upon dwindling fossil fuels for transport, fertilisers and copious amounts of packaging. A fifth of all car journeys are either to or from a supermarket: a situation that will only worsen if their numbers increase.

Green MEPs have proposed tough new rules to protect rural economies and the environment and are calling for the EU Commission to examine supermarkets dominance. We also want a Royal Commission on Food Security to propose ways of boosting local producers and suppliers, as well as the growing organic sector. Our government must do more to protect our already beleaguered and usually under-rewarded farmers, the environment and rural communities.

Philip Booth