HC Deb 15 January 2001 vol 361 cc9-10W
Mr. Jack

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft Code of Practice covering the relationship between suppliers and producers in the produce trade. [144899]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 11 January 2001]: I will do so once a draft Code of Practice is available.

Mr. Jack

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has received from the Office of Fair Trading on how the process of consultation was determined in the course of preparing the Code of Practice covering the relationship between suppliers and producers in the produce trade. [144898]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 11 January 2001]: I have not yet received advice from the Director General concerning the Code of Practice. I understand the Office of Fair Trading is still in discussions with the supermarkets concerned. I have said that representatives of suppliers will have an opportunity to comment on a draft of the Code. The Director General expects that to take place later this month, once the current round of discussions with the supermarkets is complete.