The committee's harshest words have been reserved for the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission. "The OFT has created doubt and uncertainty by referring planning matters to the Competition Commission," it said. "We are appalled it took no evidence from planning experts and did not consult DETR." The MPs said delays to the Competition Commission's inquiry into supermarket profitability meant there would be uncertainty over supermarket planning policy until after the next election. And they described the Commission's probe into planning as a "waste of time" because the regime is designed to regulate land use and does not favour one company over another. "Relaxation would not be justified because the effect on town centres and village shops would be far too damaging," the report said. {{NEWS }}