WILLIAMS - "More needs to be done to protect farmers"

3.58.47pm GMT Thu 14th Jan 2010

Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales welcomes the Governments decision to finally introduce a supermarket Ombudsman, however he believes the move does not go far enough to protect the producers from Supermarkets unfair practises.

Roger Williams said: "For years The Liberal Democrats and I have lobbied for an independent regulator to enforce a beefed up code, and if that code of practice that is not legally binding it will mean that much will depend on how much power the ombudsman gets.

"The ombudsman also needs to have the power to oversee the entire food chain and not just those who deal directly with supermarkets.

"I am worried that this change is just a belated and half-baked attempt to buy off farmers in the run-up to a General Election.

"Farmers have been pushed to the brink and Supermarkets anti-competitive practices will continue unless more is done to protect them.