Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2017 to Question 115216, what changes he proposes to implement for the operation of the Grocery Code Adjudicator (GCA) as a result of the review published on 19 July 2017; and what plans he has to extend the remit of the GCA to cover smaller suppliers in the grocery supply chain.

Following the Statutory Review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), the Government is working with the GCA to agree a strategic goal to address the reluctance of some direct suppliers to raise legitimate grievances with the GCA due to a fear of commercial consequences. The Government will continue to support the GCA in her work by also making it clear to retailers designated by the Code that it is not acceptable that direct suppliers face commercial consequences as a result of reporting potential breaches of the Code. We will also work with Trade Associations to help their members understand how the Code works and the role of the GCA.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has been working closely with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs to consider potential solutions to issues identified by respondents to the Call for Evidence on the remit of the GCA. We aim to publish a response to the call for evidence in due course.