§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry about the Competition Commission's recommendation for a code of practice to be introduced governing the relationship between supermarkets and their suppliers; and when she expects the code to be introduced. [23060]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry about the code of practice, but we have been kept informed of progress on its development.
The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 18 December that she had accepted undertakings from the UK's major supermarkets to abide by the code and that it will come into effect from 17 March 2002.