January 2007
Glyn Davies

25/01/07

GLYN DAVIES RAISES FUTURE OF NEWTOWN BYPASS IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has welcomed a commitment by First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, that he will make clear the up to date position about the progress of a Newtown bypass in a letter.

 Glyn Davies raised the future of the bypass in Tuesdays First Minister's Questions.

 Commenting on the reasons for his question Glyn Davies, who lives close to Newtown, said:

 "There is growing concern about the traffic problems in Newtown, particularly since planning permission has just been granted for one supermarket off the existing through road - and permission is being sought for another.

 For many years the town has been assured that a bypass will be built but no progress has been made to date.  The first and crucial step is to identify the line on which the bypass will be built.  We need to be assured that this work is going ahead.

 A by pass for Newtown is important for much of West Wales as well as Newtown.  The biggest negative when trying to persuade businesses to establish in West Wales is the transport network.  I have been committed to progressing a bypass for Newtown for many years - and remain hopeful it will come to fruition before too long!"

23/01/07

GLYN DAVIES WELCOMES FOCUS ON DAIRY FARMERS IN SUPERMARKETS REPORT

 Glyn Davies, AM for Mid and West Wales has welcomed today's 'Emerging Thinking' report from the Competition Commission concerning their inquiry into the market for supply of groceries.  He particularly welcomes the specific references in the report to dairy farmers who are currently leaving the industry at a rapid rate.

 Representatives of Sainsbury's and Tesco's are attending the meeting of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee on 7the February to discuss the future of dairy industry.  The FUW will be attending the same meeting where the Governments Dairy Strategy will also be discussed.

 Commenting on today's report, Glyn Davies who himself has been a dairy farmer and is currently Chair of the National Assembly's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee, said:

 "Dairy farmers are losing money at present and are 'giving up' on the industry in unprecedented numbers.  The Competition Commission is right to be concerned.  We are heading to a position where the UK will be importing its milk from Eastern Europe.

 Sainsbury and Tesco have agreed to give evidence to the Assembly's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee on 7^th February.  I am looking forward to hearing the major retailer's perspective on the financial difficulties of dairy farmers, what concerns they have about future supplies and what steps they intend to take to retain a dairy industry within the UK.

 The Commission is also looking at the impact that large supermarkets are having on local choice.  We have to accept that grocery shoppers demonstrate a preference for supermarkets by their actions - but we need a judgement from the Commission about whether supermarkets are using their muscle unfairly."

23/01/07

GLYN DAVIES SHARES COMPETITION COMMISSION'S CONCERN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF SUPERMARKET DOMINANCE   

Glyn Davies, AM for Mid and West Wales shares the principal concern of the Competition Commission reported in its 'Emerging Thinking' document about the impact the of supermarkets on other local suppliers of groceries.

The Commission's interim report notes the unacceptability of major retailers achieving a position in local markets where prices can be controlled because of a lack of effective competition.

Commenting on today's Report, Glyn Davies who is Chair of the National Assembly's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee, said:

"There is a great deal of concern about the growing dominance of supermarkets in local markets - and whether this dominance is killing off any effective competition.  I am pleased that the Commission is going to look more closely at this issue - about which we hear so many contradictory claims.  We need to know whether the growing success of supermarkets is simply because shoppers prefer them - or because competition is being frozen out.

I also hope that the Competition Commission will consider ways in which supermarkets can play a part in strengthening local markets - and prevent supermarkets from buying up all potential retail development sites in an area in order to freeze out local competition.  I would also welcome planning authorities pressing for opportunities for other small local retailers either in or sufficiently close to supermarkets as a condition of granting planning permission.

But we have to reorganise that supermarkets are hugely popular and successful.  My opinion is that a strategy of working with supermarket power in a positive way to strengthen local markets is more likely to increase competition, than adopting the negative attitudes that we so often see towards what are the UK's most successful businesses."