Many residents have taken part in the campaign for the creation of an independent ombudsman to monitor and enforce regulations between supermarkets and their overseas suppliers. 

The Under-Secretary for The Department for International Development Gareth Thomas has stated that he and his colleagues are analysing the report from the Competition Commission which recommends a supermarket Ombudsman.

He has stated that the government’s position is under consideration, and that a response about the ombudsman should be provided before Parliament has its summer recess. The Secretary of State for The Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform Rt Hon John Hutton has stressed that the Department is committed to fair trade markets.  

Through buying products from developing countries we will help the economies of those countries grow and so reduce poverty. I am pleased to report that fair trade sales in the UK have doubled every two years for the past eight, but we must ensure that the growth of the fair trade market in the benefits those who need the program the most. 

I have written to both ministers asking what progress has been made in the creation of the ombudsman to monitor the relations between supermarkets and their overseas suppliers.