Clone Town Britain Report
15 February 2006
A cross party group of MPs has called for an independent regulator and abeefed up code of practice to bring the monopoly held by the big foursupermarkets under control. In their 'High Street Britain: 2015' reportpublished today, the MPs warn of the likely collapse of the small shop by2015 and the creation of 'clone towns' - a process already well underwaythroughout the country. (1)
Green MSPs have repeatedly made the same call for an independent traderegulator, is a key aim in their 'food revolution' campaign and was thesubject of a Green parliamentary debate in 2004.(2) Public opinion pollsalso indicate that up to 89% of Scots want supermarkets to be betterregulated to operate more in the public interest. (3)
The All Party Group on Small Shops says that if smaller stores continue tobe squeezed out there will be severe social, economic and environmentalconsequences felt by local communities. Convenience stores and grocers are"unlikely to survive" the growth of the larger chains, and that "the erosionof small shops is viewed as the erosion of the social glue that bindscommunities together."
Green MSP and co-convener Shiona Baird said: "There is little doubt that thebig four supermarkets are out of control and the need to regulate themproperly and fairly is a responsibility of government. They put profit aboveall else to the detriment of other retailers and suppliers right through thesupply chain. The British Retail Consortium response that independentregulation would mean 'turning the clock back' is a rather poor attempt tohide their greed. It is unfair trade that belongs to the past. Fair trade isthe only sustainable way forward for everyone in the food supply chain fromfarmers to small shopkeepers.
"This report will put further pressure on the Scottish Minister Ross Finnie.His Libdem colleagues in Westminster are making strong calls for anindependent regulator and he needs to come off the fence and show he careswhat happens to farmers in Scotland."
A parliamentary inquiry into the state of Scotland's dairy industry, whichGreens called for, has just completed taking evidence and will seek to findanswers to the problems of dairy farmers who are often paid less than thecosts of production of milk. The squeeze on milk suppliers has resulted onthe loss of 700 dairy farms in Scotland over the last five years.
Greens have joined local communities campaigning against unnecessaryexpansion of yet more supermarkets across Scotland, including areas likeDundee, Inverness, Edinburgh, Crieff and Castle Douglas.
The report makes the following recommendations:
- Suspend takeovers until plans to secure the diversity of the sector are brought forward
- Establish a regulator
- Bring in comprehensive code of practice
- Revise retail property market
- Encourage transformation of Post Office network
- Tax system review
- Give local people greater say in decision-making process
- Develop regeneration units in all local authorities
Notes:
1. A copy of the report is available from the Green MSP Press Office. Formore information about the cross party group go towww.publications.parliament.uk
2. The food campaign has four themes:
a.. safe food (control pesticide use, campaign against GM and encourageorganic farming) b.. fair food (to ensure farmers receive a fair price for their goods,and to help low income households source healthy food) c.. good food (promote access to fresh, high quality food, especially inschools and hospitals) local food (to cut down on food miles and boostfarmers' markets and independent shops thereby preserving jobs in the area)Download the full 'Food Revolution' campaign document fromwww.scottishgreens.org.uk
For a copy of a leaflet about the milk trade go towww.scottishgreens.org.uket.html
3. ICM research - 89% of Scots respondents (and 82% UK respondents) answeredyes when asked "Do you think the government should impose rules andregulations on how the large supermarkets operate to ensure that they alwaysact in the best public interest?" Supermarket Survey, January 2005.
4. For New Economic Foundation report Ghost Town Britain, seewww.neweconomics.org
