Wednesday 5th November 2014

(10 years, 1 month ago)

Westminster Hall
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Nia Griffith Portrait Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab)
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Does the hon. Gentleman agree that that is the very reason why we need the voluntary code to be strengthened—so that farmers cannot be shocked by sudden price drops by big purchasers? Will he ask the Minister to look again at the voluntary code and at making something much stronger?

Simon Hart Portrait Simon Hart
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I thank the hon. Lady, who is a near neighbour. Yes, I will be making that point. The code and the adjudicator have been in place long enough now for some positive benefit to have been felt. The farming community has not yet convinced me, however, that the powers of the code and the adjudicator have been exercised as satisfactorily as they might have been.