The Competition Commission has still not found an expert to advise on planning issues as part of its inquiry into the grocery market. The Times
The search has been delayed because of potential conflicts of interest involved in appointing experts in the retail planning field.
The commission is investigating whether the planning system, the buying power of supermarkets and predatory pricing tactics, or supermarkets’ control of undeveloped land restricts competition.
Last week the commission admitted that the inquiry would be pushed back by three months.
The deadline for submissions is September, after which the commission will publish its provisional findings.