Sainsbury and Asda Merger

Rachael Maskell Excerpts
Monday 30th April 2018

(6 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrew Griffiths Portrait Andrew Griffiths
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My hon. Friend raises important points, and I know that his constituents will be concerned. I can assure him that the CMA will take representations. If he would like to meet personally with the CMA, I would be delighted to try to help facilitate that.

Rachael Maskell Portrait Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)
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The Foss Islands Sainsbury’s and Asda are also adjacent to each other, and staff will have woken up this morning to hear the announcement not from their employers but on the radio. What is the Minister doing to ensure staff get the support now that they need?

Andrew Griffiths Portrait Andrew Griffiths
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We have engaged with Sainsbury’s and Asda to urge them to speak to their staff, and we have also engaged very openly and honestly with the trade unions. We want to see proper and early engagement and consultation in this process to ensure that the workforce is protected, but the public assurances that both Sainsbury’s and Asda are giving at present are that all the stores, and all the jobs in the stores, will be protected.