NABMA membership has come back with a series of challenging questions that they wish the All Party Parliamentary Group for Markets to take up with Margaret Hodge, DTi Minister when she attends the next gathering on 13 March 2007 at Westminster.

NABMA took the decision to invite its members to outline their concerns and questions so that the genuine voice of local authority markets could be presented.

NABMA President Don Davies was delighted with the take up. “We have a real diversity and range of questions that will challenge the Minister. The list presents an excellent agenda for debate and brings out the components and encouragement that is clearly felt needed to enable our markets to develop and prosper. The questions have come from across the country. We have forwarded the list to Ann Coffey, Secretary of the APPG.”

The DTi website outlines that Margaret is responsible for the following: Enterprise, growth and business investment; Strengthening regional economies, Small businesses, E Commerce, Corporate Social Responsibility. There are other company responsibilities but these are not particularly relevant to NABMA.

Given the Minister’s responsibilities NABMA has said it would be grateful if the following areas could be covered in her presentation:

1. PPS6 and Note 6 highlighted the fact that markets can make a valuable contribution to local choice and diversity in shopping as well as the vitality of town centres. Local Authorities were asked to ensure that their markets remain attractive and competitive by investing in their improvement. Can the Minister bring us up to date on what actions the government has or is taking to ensure that markets are included in town centre redevelopment plans and not sidelined?

2. There is an urgent need to attract a new generation of market traders. A number of local authorities are diversifying the goods sold in markets and offering opportunities to new businesses. The Minister is asked what support markets might receive for new start up businesses and what encouragement might the government give to help market traders become established.

3. Markets can make a key contribution to a number of important policy areas. In performing these important functions there is a need to work effectively with Regional Development Agencies. Can the Minister give an assurance that in guidance offered to RDAs the importance of markets will be highlighted.

4. Markets are an essential part of town centre activity and if town centres decline this has a consequent impact on markets. Can the Minister provide assurances that the government will continue to protect town centres and acknowledge that diversity in the retail sector is important in giving consumers meaningful choice.

5. There is need to update market trading and while maintaining the general atmosphere of the market the introduction of new technology and trading methods are required. The Minister is asked to indicate what support might be available for educating traders in modern trading techniques and also promoting the use of new technology.

6. Markets are increasingly an important tourist attraction particularly in the context of the specialist markets highlighted above. In order to encourage the importance of markets in the tourism agenda can the Minister provide any encouragement to markets to continue to promote themselves on this issue?

7. The Minister will no doubt be aware of the action being taken on unlawful street traders and the work being done by Dr Brian Iddon with his Bill to move pedlars and unlawful street trading out of town centres. It is important, if town centres and markets are to flourish, that the public can shop without being harangued by pedlars, others selling services such as insurance and paper sellers. Can the Minister indicate whether action is being considered to ensure that town centres are free from these kinds of activities many of which are unlawful in nature?

8. In the face of ever increasing competition what can you do to prioritise on a national level, our industry’s tradition as a nurturing ground for small retail businesses to make it big given that Tesco, Morrison and Marks and Spencer all started life on a market stall and are now competing on the global retail stage they automatically control supply chains, buyer behaviour and therefore the profitability of alternative shopping opportunities?

9. What help can your department offer to financial help the industry engage with the new migrants coming to the UK that will allow us to utilise their uniqueness in retailing terms and allow them to become active participants in the UK economy rather than being seen as a drain on resources?

10. What practical and financial help can your department offer the markets industry to exploit the entrepreneurial spirit in the youth of our nation whilst allowing us to maintain our credentials as an industry with low barriers to entry for those wishing to start up in business as a career?