§ Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will instigate an investigation into the level of meat prices in United Kingdom supermarkets; what representations he has made to UK supermarkets concerning(a) the price of meat and (b) the promotion of British meat; and if he will make a statement. [27913]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 9 February 1998]: The levels of retail prices for meat are set by competition, which is strong in the food retailing sector. The Director General of Fair Trading keeps the market under review to ensure that it continues to remain competitive. I see no case, at present, for separate investigation, or for specific representations to food retailing firms. As regards beef, we are introducing a voluntary beef labelling scheme in the United Kingdom with effect from 1 April 1998; this will allow consumers to make informed choices about the beef they purchase and will reassure them that British beef meets the traceability requirements.