Each week in the run up to polling day on June 7, The Grocer will be asking leading figures from across the food and drink industry to identify the one issue they think the newly elected government should tackle first Graham White Chief executive Londis We should like to see positive steps to encourage productivity, improvements by incentivising investment in technology and rolling back the expansion of red tape which is placing ever more onerous burdens on companies at all levels in the convenience sector. The state is gradually passing down to the private sector social obligations that should be more properly dealt with by the government, such as Working Families' Tax Credit, Paternity Leave, Stake-Holder Pensions, and so on. James Walker MD, Walker's Shortbread I hope that the new government will adopt a serious long-term attitude to the food manufacturing industry and make life easier for exporters by organising a more stable pound, possibly through a 5% to 7.5% devaluation. I am not in favour of a weak pound, but it has been too strong for several years and this has made life difficult for exporters. I would also like the new government to take us into the euro but at a reasonable exchange rate. Alan Smith Chief executive Somerfield I would like to see the new government take a realistic view towards transport. Retailers must be able to transport goods efficiently to service customers' needs. The future economic wellbeing of the country is very dependent on our transport infrastructure being sufficiently resilient to cope with these increasing demands. Too often, political considerations or the Nimby' approach interfere with sensible and urgent investment decisions. {{NEWS }}