18-02-2008
Government to step in on retail wars
News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages.
The UK's Competition Commission has announced details of remedial measures, following an investigation into the practices of Britain's largest supermarkets.
Following the conclusion of an investigation into possible position abuses, the commission has issued a number of recommendations, including the suggested implementation of changes to planning permission decision-making, as a way of enhancing competition.
However, the Competition Commission's proposals have faced some criticism.
"Instead of doing the job they were given, which was to break the stranglehold of the big four supermarkets ... they propose measures, such as weakening current checks and balances on planning, that will tighten their grip," said Andrew Simms, policy director of the New Economics Foundation (NEF), in a report by the Guardian.
The NEF is an independent think-tank, established in 1986.
As part of the recommendations, the Competition Commission has also suggested the creation of body to assist with the protection of small-scale farmers and suppliers.