Today we explore the role and limitations of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), which oversees fair trading between large UK supermarkets and their direct suppliers. Despite being intended to protect producers and consumers, many argue its remit is too narrow, covering only the largest retailers and often missing primary producers further down the chain. Suppliers fear retaliation if they complain. Proposals include widening the GCA's scope, reducing the turnover threshold for covered businesses, giving it more powers (like initiating inquiries and regulating prices), or creating a new regulator for the entire supply chain. The goal is to ensure fairness, support domestic producers, and enhance food security.

Key Takeaways:

• The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) was established to ensure fair trading between large retailers and suppliers.
• It currently applies only to the largest grocery retailers (turnover over £1 billion).
• Many believe the GCA's powers and scope are too narrow and that it needs "more teeth".
• There are calls to extend the GCA's remit to include more retailers, food service providers, manufacturers, and even the ornamental sector.
• Producers and farmers often feel left out, as the code primarily covers direct suppliers to the large retailers.
• A significant fear of reprisal or being "blacklisted" prevents many suppliers and farmers from raising complaints.
• Some propose giving the GCA power over price floors and ceilings or initiating its own investigations.
• There is a call for a more holistic regulator that covers the entire food supply chain, from farm to shelf.

Important Definitions and Concepts:

• Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA): A body set up to enforce the groceries supply code of practice, ensuring fair dealing between designated large retailers and their direct suppliers.
• Groceries Supply Code of Practice: The set of rules that designated grocery retailers must follow in their dealings with suppliers, which the GCA enforces.

Source: Groceries Code Adjudicator
Volume 768: debated on Tuesday 3 June 2025

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Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.

Discover why local pubs are vital community hubs, providing jobs, supporting local businesses, and boosting social connection. Learn about the financial challenges pubs face, like rising costs and taxes, leading to many closures. This episode explores how communities are stepping up to save beloved pubs, often aiming for community ownership. We discuss past government support like the Community Ownership Fund and proposed new rights and funding streams to help preserve these important assets for the future.

Key Takeaways:

• Pubs are important community assets that contribute significantly to local economies and social cohesion.
• Rising costs, taxes, and changing consumer behavior are causing many pubs to close.
• Community ownership allows local people to buy and run pubs for community benefit, not just profit.
• The Community Ownership Fund previously helped groups buy assets, including pubs, but is no longer available.
• New government plans include a Community Right to Buy for assets like pubs and potential new funding or support through initiatives like the Plan for Neighbourhoods.

Important Definitions and Concepts:

• Community Pub: A pub run for the benefit of the local community, often reinvesting profits back into community initiatives.
• Community Ownership Fund: A past government fund that provided money to community groups to help them purchase important local assets, including pubs.
• Community Right to Buy: A proposed new legal power allowing local authorities to require landlords to rent out persistently vacant commercial units, potentially enabling communities to take them over.

Discussion: Considering the challenges pubs face and the potential for community ownership, how can communities and government work together effectively to save valued local pubs and ensure they thrive as community hubs in the future?

Source: Pubs and Community Funding
Volume 767: debated on Monday 19 May 2025

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No outside chatter: source material only taken from Hansard and the Parliament UK website.

Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.

This episode explores the significant issue of banking fraud in the UK. We'll cover the two main types: unauthorised fraud, where criminals make payments without permission, and authorised push payment (APP) fraud, where victims are tricked into sending money themselves. Learn about the scale of losses – £1.2 billion stolen in 2023. We'll discuss how law enforcement and the government are working to tackle fraud, including criticisms of past efforts. Crucially, we examine the banking industry's role and recent changes like mandatory reimbursement for APP fraud victims.

Key Takeaways

• Criminals stole £1.2 billion through banking fraud and scams in 2023.
• Fraud accounted for over 40% of crimes against individuals in England and Wales in 2024.
• Unauthorised fraud involves payments made without the account holder's permission. Payment providers almost always reimburse victims.
• Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud is where a victim is tricked into sending money.
• From October 2024, payment service providers are legally required to reimburse APP fraud victims up to £85,000, subject to conditions.
• The police response to fraud has been criticised, with a low percentage of reported cases leading to investigation.
• The government published a Fraud Strategy in 2023 aiming to stop fraud, pursue criminals, and help victims.
• Banking industry actions include the Banking Protocol scheme, sharing intelligence with police, and implementing Confirmation of Payee.

Important Definitions and Concepts

• Authorised Push Payment (APP) Fraud: Occurs when a victim is tricked into sending money directly from their account to an account controlled by a criminal.
• Action Fraud: The national reporting centre for fraud in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which collects reports before they are analysed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB).

Source: Banking fraud
Research Briefing
19 May, 2025

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No outside chatter: source material only taken from Hansard and the Parliament UK website.

Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.