Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require supermarkets to charge regulated prices for certain products.

The government does not intend to propose legislation directly regulating prices in supermarkets. Effective competition in the grocery market will ensure fair prices and choices are available to consumers.

Promoting effective competition is the responsibility of the independent Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). In response to cost of living pressures, the CMA has conducted a wide-ranging project looking at competition and prices in the groceries sector. This work found that competition is generally working well in the sector, however the CMA are continuing this work and examining the impact of loyalty scheme pricing.