BRC's Shop Price Index, which is compiled independently, shows prices falling for the last 15 months in a row. All supermarkets, where they can, will use local suppliers. And if the supermarket is being chosen over and above the local shop, that is the nature of competition. It is important to remember that supermarkets are taking part in a number of initiatives to help local shops trade and in many instances survive. On job creation, here are the latest figures - the grocery sector employs 790,000 and has created 170,000 new jobs.
Size is fundamental to the whole problem.
Supermarkets that are inappropriately large for their catchment area undoubtedly result in the closure of independent retailers. Government is now encouraging appropriately sized supermarkets in towns. But despite a number of small-scale initiatives, supermarkets have still not taken this policy on board. Solving the problem is certainly the responsibility of a number of stake-holders, including government and the police, not just the retailers. I hope you in turn will support the briefing paper published last week by The Centre for Food Policy.