Ombudsman call from NFUS

CONSUMERS urgently require a supermarket regulator or ombudsman, according to NFU Scotland.

The Competition Commission in its recent interim report appeared to back the concerns of farmers over alleged increasing pressure in relation to terms of contract with the major outlets.

Jim McLaren, the president of NFU Scotland, said yesterday: "Ferocious competition between supermarkets may have given some short-term benefits to consumers in the form of lower prices. However, this is being achieved through practices which jeopardise the long-term interests of consumers.

"A supermarket ombudsman must be independent and have the power to demand informationand than act where there are abuses of power."