Keep trade local says South Lib Dem MSP

11.00.00am GMT Fri 16th May 2008

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has today endorsed the Federation of Small Businesses', Keep Trade Local campaign, following a debate in the Scottish Parliament this week on supermarket dominance.

Jim Hume said, "Liberal Democrats have long advocated the use of local produce. I have spoken to local high street traders across the South of Scotland - in Hawick, Galashiels, Dunbar, Haddington, Dumfries and Lockerbie to name a few - and it's clear that larger retailers have an impact on those local businesses.

"The larger retailers have huge buying power and can reduce prices to such a low that they out-compete the smaller businesses. This isn't good for town centre shops and businesses, and it also means there is a lack of equality in the supply chain with supermarkets forcing their suppliers to take low prices.

The MSP continued, "I was delighted when the FSB asked me to get behind their Keep Trade Local campaign. Town Centres by their very nature are at the heart of our communities and I fully support the FSB's campaign because local shops keep the local economy going.

"Supermarkets do have their place, but it's the local town centre shops which provide the diversity our communities want and need to keep them vibrant and full of life."