Roger Williams MP
Campaigning for Brecon & Radnorshire
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Roger Williams MP Campaigning for Brecon & Radnorshire |
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Roger Williams MP | <info@rogerwilliams.org.uk> |
20 Most Recent Stories From TheyWorkForYou.com Search: in the 'Commons debates' speaker:Roger WilliamsFri 5th Mar 2010: Prayers: Grocery Market Ombudsman Bill (5 Mar 2010). Roger Williams: If the hon. Gentleman looks at those figures, he will find that the decline in farm-gate prices was far greater than the decline in retail prices, and that leads one to suppose that the supermarkets were maintaining or increasing their margins while putting pressure on the smaller producers. Prayers: Grocery Market Ombudsman Bill (5 Mar 2010). Roger Williams: The hon. Gentleman has picked a figure of 1 per cent. Does that mean that supermarkets are underpaying suppliers by £1.3 billion as a result of their unfair practices? Is that the assumption he is making with the figures he has picked out of the air? Prayers: Grocery Market Ombudsman Bill (5 Mar 2010). Roger Williams: I will try once more. The hon. Gentleman says that the supermarkets are not trading unfairly in any way. Presumably therefore, in his analysis, the ombudsman would not make any award or decision that increases what supermarkets pay to suppliers. However, he has given the figure of 1 per cent., which assumes that there is unfair trading to the tune of £1.3 billion. Prayers: Grocery Market Ombudsman Bill (5 Mar 2010). Roger Williams: The hon. Gentleman makes an important point, but some small producers supply bigger processors. I am thinking about the report that the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will soon produce on Dairy Farmers of Britain. I do not want to pre-empt the report's findings, but one thing is certain-that group has gone bust, and that has caused huge problems for very small milk producers.... Prayers: Grocery Market Ombudsman Bill (5 Mar 2010). Roger Williams: indicated assent. Prayers: Grocery Market Ombudsman Bill (5 Mar 2010). Roger Williams: Another benefit for supermarkets and large retailers is the ability to plan for a continuity of supply. That is important for both them and their customers. Agricultural support used to encourage supply, but we have now moved away from that. If we are to have continuity, we must have profitability right the way along the supply chain. A regulator could achieve both that and continuity of supply. Prayers: Grocery Market Ombudsman Bill (5 Mar 2010). Roger Williams: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree with me on a point that he might develop later. The issue is not all about prices; it is about terms of trade as well. I recently discovered a supermarket that tried to increase its credit terms to 90 days. That is an impossible situation for a small supplier, so the matter is about more than price-it is about terms of trade as well. Thu 25th Feb 2010: Roger Williams: As always, it is a pleasure and a privilege to follow the right hon. Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy), to whom I pay tribute for the friendliness and support he offered in his two tenures as Secretary of State for Wales. He visited my constituency at the depth of the current recession to meet small business owners who were struggling and gave them assistance and encouragement. I am pleased to... Roger Williams: That is a strange and illogical argument, because if powers were transferred to the Welsh Assembly, they would include the powers that the hon. Gentleman mentions. Roger Williams: I agree with the Secretary of State- Roger Williams: I will read it, but it is incredible to me-when I became a Member of Parliament in 2001, I did not think that housing would be an especially big issue in my area-that almost a third of the people who come to my surgeries do so because they have housing difficulties. If the Welsh Assembly had more powers to address those issues in my constituency-and others-it would be very welcome. Roger Williams: My hon. Friend makes a very good point-it is the point that I am trying to make-but there is also a point about how illogical it is to try to obstruct this progress when it seems that most parties in Wales would like further powers, which would include those powers anyway. Roger Williams: From the Liberal Democrat Benches, I certainly cannot answer on behalf of the Conservative party-we will see what happens in the wash-up, which will be viewed with great interest by Members of the House and people living in Wales. Employment rates in Wales are the third issue that I want to touch on. We have argued about whether 8.7 per cent. unemployment is high, higher or whatever, but my... Roger Williams: Will the hon. Lady give way? Roger Williams: The Secretary of State claims credit for his Government for the fact that this recession is not as acute and difficult as the last one. Individuals have made a contribution, too, by working part time and by cutting their hours. There has been a huge amount of suffering as a result of the recession, but individuals have played their part in helping. I am sure that the Secretary of State wants... Wed 10th Feb 2010: Oral Answers to Questions — Wales: Bovine Tuberculosis (10 Feb 2010). Roger Williams: The Labour-led Administration in Cardiff bay have come up with a positive programme to eliminate TB in cattle in Wales, which includes better biosecurity, progress on the vaccination programme and a limited cull of infected wildlife. I am sure that the Minister will agree that devolution is not about isolation; it is about spreading best practice. Will he therefore have a word with the... Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (10 Feb 2010). Roger Williams: The Prime Minister and his noble Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills are right to believe that a central plank of building a sustainable and prosperous economy is investing in science and research, yet cuts in research budgets are being reported across the country. I am thinking in particular of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences in... Thu 4th Feb 2010: Roger Williams: What recent discussions he has had on improving the effectiveness of the International Whaling Commission. Roger Williams: I understand that a proposal may be made in the forthcoming intersessional meeting of the International Whaling Commission in March to introduce a new form of legitimate whaling-so-called coastal whaling. Will my hon. Friend commit the UK Government to opposing any such new forms of commercial whaling? Tue 2nd Feb 2010: Compensation Act 2006 (Amendment): New Clause 2 — Regular maintenance of water courses (2 Feb 2010). Roger Williams: As I see it, the problem goes beyond resources such as the pumps and boats needed for rescues, to include the running costs incurred by extra overtime and call-out pay for retained firemen. Those costs lead to extra expenditure on the part of the fire and rescue services, for which they are not resourced in any way. It is all very well to lay down duties and powers, but they have to be... Earlier Stories Complete archive on the official site.
Published and promoted by Roger Williams MP, 4 Watergate, Brecon, Powys LD3 9AN. The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider. |
