Finnie must stand up for producers

UK supermarket inquiry in Edinburgh next week

Environment Minister Ross Finnie should be tackling the ongoing crisis in Scottish dairy farming and boosting support for organic farming if his claims to support Scottish Food Fortnight are sincere, Greens said today. Mr Finnie launched the annual event this morning prompting Greens to call for him to speak up "in no uncertain terms" when he meets with officials from the Competition Commission next week as part of a UK inquiry into the supermarket industry.

The Commission is in Edinburgh on September 5th and 6th to hold hearings with the Scottish Grocers Federation, the Scottish Executive, Scottish Parliament and the NFU Scotland. The Inquiry Chairman Peter Freeman will also be meeting with Ross Finnie. Greens have long-argued that the supermarket industry must be more effectively regulated if producers, consumers and the environment are to be protected. Farmers applying for organic aid grants are also being turned away - latest figures show only 157 of 627 applications were approved.

Shiona Baird MSP, Greens' co-leader said, "Supporting Scottish Food Fortnight is of course to be welcomed but the real test of Finnie's commitment to the industry will be when the Commission comes to Scotland next week. He must outline in no uncertain terms the failings of the Code of Practice, the struggle farmers are facing, the relentless drive by Tesco et al to kill off small shops, and the devastating effect this all has on farming and retail businesses, and on local economies.

"Proper regulation of supermarkets and encouraging procurement of local, fresh produce could go a long way in delivering economic, health and environmental benefits and ensuring the Scottish food industry really thrives. The Executive must start to seriously address these issues before it is too late - otherwise Scottish consumers will be left paying the price."

In June, following intense pressure from Green MSPs, the Executive finally made public the late response it submitted to a UK-wide inquiry into supermarkets - and admitted that "a more effective mechanism" is needed in light of the failure of the Code of Practice.