With the news that the Government has given the green light to Morrison’s to
take over the Safeway chain of supermarkets, Michael Fabricant says "I am
seeking assurances from Morrison’s that jobs will be safe at the Burntwood
and Lichfield stores. The Government has decided that they will only permit
the Morrison’s take-over of the 479 Safeway stores in the chain provided
they sell off 53 of them. This rather bizarre decision has thrown into
doubt which stores will remain open and which will close or be taken over by
other companies. I am concerned for the future of staff at the two Safeway
stores in the Lichfield constituency and also wish to assure customers –
of which I am one – that Safeway in Burntwood and Lichfield will remain
open. I can well appreciate how worrying this must be to staff and shoppers
alike".

Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda have been prevented by the Government from
taking over Morrison’s as it would give them too large a market dominance.