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The need for a supermarket watchdog was made clear in the Competition Commission’s reports published in 2000 and 2008. They warned that that practices by the big supermarkets were transferring ‘excessive risk and unexpected costs’ to suppliers and that if action was taken these practices would ‘have an adverse effect on investment and innovation in the supply chain, and ultimately on consumers’. Mr. George noted that new rules governing fair business practices in the supply chain were introduced in February 2010 but said that unless the Government act to create the watchdog there was no one in place to ensure the new rules are enforced.

Mr. George, who also chairs the national Grocery Market Action Group (GMAG), said,

“The call for a supermarket watchdog has cross-party support. The previous government failed to act but the Coalition Government has no excuse for any further delay.

“The Government claims one of its main goals is to empower local people so they should practice what they preach and create a watchdog which will protect local producers and consumers and give them more of a say in the competitive food market.

“Some of the large supermarkets still object. But, if they have nothing to hide then they have nothing to fear. Some supermarkets claim they have improved their practices and now how a much more positive relationship with local producers. However, a watchdog is still needed to protect consumers and producers permanently and for the long term and to make sure this isn’t just supermarket spin.”

Mr. George has led the campaign for the creation of a supermarket watchdog since 2000. The GMAG includes in its membership the National Farmers’ Union, the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland, the British Independent Fruit Growers Association, Friends of the Earth, ActionAid, Traidcraft, the Association of Convenience Stores and others.

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Mr George said, “After all of the debate, the massive opposition is still mounting and the meagre support for the Bill is ebbing away. A more rational process would have resulted in the dignified withdrawal of the Bill long ago. Is there anything that would persuade Health Ministers to change their minds?

Mr George also criticised the Secretary of State – Andrew Lansley – for not answering the question but leaving it to his Junior Health Minister, Simon Burns. Mr Burns said that there was nothing that would persuade Ministers to change their mind.

After the event in the Commons, Mr George said:

“If Health Ministers aren’t listening then I’m very concerned for the future of the NHS. The Bill has very few friends. The fortunes of the NHS should not be determined by ludicrous virility contests of the Westminster Village. The Secretary of State knows that he either has to face down the opposition, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, GPs, midwives and other health professionals or otherwise he loses face and loses his job. In the political prism of Westminster no other option is possible. A dignified withdrawal is very difficult to achieve at this stage, even though that would be the rational thing to do.

“If Ministers really are saying that there is absolutely nothing that would persuade them to change their minds then I’m very concerned about the future impact of this legislation on our NHS.”

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February 20th 2012

London Evening Standard

Mirror

Mr George, who has been a consistent critic of Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s Health Bill, last month urged the Prime Minister, David Cameron, to drop the Bill. Mr George will ask at Question 11 in Health Questions today:

“If he will withdraw the Health and Social Care Bill?”

Mr George said: “Apart from those with a financial interest the Bill has virtually no friends. What miniscule support the Health Secretary did have is ebbing away.

“We should not allow our NHS to become seriously damaged just because the Health Secretary fears he would lose face if he were to do the honourable thing and back down.

“The future of the NHS is put in jeopardy by those who see these things as a political virility test. A dignified withdrawal is still possible, even at this late stage.”

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Mr George has received much individual casework about the length of time constituents have had to wait for responses to their urgent calls for medical assistance out of hours. It has been suggested that, whereas the service in the past had adequate GP cover, often the west of Cornwall has only one GP covering the whole area from the west of Bodmin.

Mr George said, “I’m keen to hear from local people about their experiences of the service. I often receive assurances from both the PCT and Serco that the service is well run and has excellent outcomes and that targets are met. That doesn’t appear to be the message I am receiving from those using the service on the ground.

“As more than 2/3rds of a 168 hour week are ‘out of hours’, making sure there’s an adequate first line of medical support through the Out of Hours service is clearly essential”.

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Although they will welcome the Government’s agreed £50 per household cut from April next year, the Cross Party group of MPs will, however, ask the Government to think again about other measures which would help to put right the impact of more than 20 years of South West Waters customers having to endure significantly higher water bills than the rest of the country.

St Ives MP, Andrew George, commented:

“It is great news that, after years of campaigning, the Coalition Government has agreed to provide assistance to hard pressed South West Water customers. Since the privatisation of water over 20 years ago, South West Water customers have had to endure significantly higher water bills than the rest of the country. The £50 per household reduction will be a great relief for many. However, there is still a significant unfairness.

“We will be pressing the Government to think again about other initiatives, such as the use of WaterSure which would require the stimulus of public expenditure in order for it to be deliverable in the South West. Under the Government’s arrangements, South West Water customers would be paying a cross-subsidy of approximately £3.40 for WaterSure reflecting the level of uptake of the tariff in the region. A national scheme would involve a cross-subsidy by ineligible customers of far less; less than £1 per annum.

“Of course, we will do what we can to encourage customer willingness to support a further Company-based cross-subsidy which will be a key factor in the ability to introduce a social tariff within the region. However, if a decent threshold of support isn’t achieved within the South West company area the scheme will be dead in the water.”

The cross Party group of MPs will be meeting the Minister in the House of Commons. The Government’s Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill will give the Government the powers to allow financial assistance to be given to South West Water customers. The Bill will receive its Second Reading on 29th February and, if all goes to plan, Royal Assent will be achieved before the end of the current Parliamentary year in May.

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Mr George has been a consistent critic of the Bill. He urged the PM to withdraw the Bill and go back to the original Coalition Agreement on 18th January this year.

Commenting on today’s ‘Summit’ of selected health bodies at 10 Downing Street, Mr George said:

“If the intention of today’s Summit is to draw attention to just how pitifully unloved and friendless the Health Bill now is amongst clinicians and patient groups, then this is a very good way of going about it.

“My concern and opposition about this Bill and the ill-advised greatest reorganisation in the history of the NHS at the very time it needs stability and certainty, has been consistent throughout. I still believe that the Government could still win respect and support if it were to withdraw the Bill.

“Although it is much more difficult to achieve a dignified withdrawal at this stage, I still believe it is possible; advisable for the Government and essential for the survival of the NHS.”

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Nearly a year ago, following the disappointing news that the original £62 million proposal to improve the ferry link had been rejected by the Department for Transport (because Ministers could not justify such a high level of public spending, after they had requested cost savings), Mr George called together a ‘Coalition of the willing’ to bring forward alternative plans. Having secured agreement from the Department that it would contribute towards the preparation of options and development costs, Mr George handed the project work over to Penzance Town Council last autumn. After appointing consultants, Hyder, to work with the hundreds of ideas and options which were presented to them last November, they have successfully sifted this down to just three which were presented at a public exhibition last week.

The Penzance Harbour Scheme Management Board will be meeting again this week to review the responses to the public consultation before making decisions about how to proceed.

Mr George said, “I congratulate all involved. Needless to say, this has been a difficult process given the circumstances. But people have, in some cases, put past differences aside and been prepared to work together for the general good.

“There is still a long way to go. Unfortunately, we don’t have any more time for reflections, delay or argument. We are in the last chance saloon. If we are to take advantage of the offer of many £millions of investment in this vital ferry and freight link then the project must continue to proceed at an accelerated pace in order to meet the immovable funding deadlines.

“The ‘Coalition of the willing’ has shown itself to be very willing and capable of moving forward and working constructively. Meanwhile the teeny residual ‘Coalition of the unwilling’ have always got the solace of social networking sites in which they can occupy themselves and their energies.”

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Andrew George, who chairs the Grocery Market Action Group, has, along with other MPs, received amorous Valentines from campaigners pressing for the introduction of a Supermarket Watchdog.

The campaigners from a Fair Trade charity have sent Mr George a Valentine as follows:

“Dear Andrew George, I’m writing to you

to ask you to make my dream come true.

This Valentine’s Day, please use your powers

(I don’t want chocolates, a card or flowers)

to put the needful procedures in train

to ensure that farmers don’t work in vain

in a market situation that favours the buyer,

too often neglecting the needs of the supplier.

So please act now; don’t delay!

Don’t think my passion will fade away.

I’ve waited so long; don’t tell me “later!”…

Please give me a Grocery Code Adjudicator.”

The Grocery Supply Code was introduced by the Competition Commission in February 2010 and the Government has promised to introduce an “Adjudicator” to referee the application of the Code. The Code has been brought in to address what the Competition Commission identified as practices which act to the detriment both of suppliers and supermarket customers.

Mr George said, “MPs are usually on the receiving end of sentiments which are quite the opposite to amorous Valentines. So it makes quite a nice change! Of course, I completely agree with the sentiments and share their passion!

“With cross party support and a draft Bill in place there is no justification for any further delay.

“Even the supermarkets can’t put the day off any longer. If they have nothing to hide then they have nothing to fear. Campaigners should retain their passion until this important proposal becomes law.”

Image credit ; graphictutorials.net

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