Changes

Wal-Mart has had more difficulty employing this tactic in the U.K. due to the legislation known as "Planning Policy Statement 6" (''PPS6''), which requires local governments to keep retail development in town centers and to limit retail development on the outskirts unless there is a clear, well-defined need.<ref>''Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres'' [http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1020432884848.html Planning Portal]. Accessed 22 January 2008</ref> Wal-Mart has lobbied heavily for the removal of the "needs test".  

Wal-Mart has had more difficulty employing this tactic in the U.K. due to the legislation known as "Planning Policy Statement 6" (''PPS6''), which requires local governments to keep retail development in town centers and to limit retail development on the outskirts unless there is a clear, well-defined need.<ref>''Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres'' [http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1020432884848.html Planning Portal]. Accessed 22 January 2008</ref> Wal-Mart has lobbied heavily for the removal of the "needs test".  

In 2006 Asda-Wal-Mart were ordered to pay $1.66 million for breaking U.K. law by offering illegal inducements to workers to quit a trade union. Around 340 drivers and warehouse staff at a distribution depot in the north-east of England were offered a 10% pay rise if they left the union. The members rejected the offer. A court established that the legislation had been breached and the company was ordered to pay every worker at the depot almost $5000 each in compensation.<ref>''Asda fined for trying to make workers quit union''  [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/feb/11/supermarkets.tradeunions The Guardian], 11 February 2006. Accessed 22 January 2008</ref>

In 2006 Asda-Wal-Mart were ordered to pay £850,000 for breaking U.K. law by offering illegal inducements to workers to quit a trade union. Around 340 drivers and warehouse staff at a distribution depot in the north-east of England were offered a 10% pay rise if they left the union. The members rejected the offer. A court established that the legislation had been breached and the company was ordered to pay every worker at the depot almost £2,500 each in compensation.<ref>''Asda fined for trying to make workers quit union''  [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/feb/11/supermarkets.tradeunions The Guardian], 11 February 2006. Accessed 22 January 2008</ref>

In December 2007 Asda-Wal Mart was one of several companies that were fined over $225 million after admitting that they fixed the price of milk, cheese and butter in a scandal estimated to have cost U.K. consumers about $526 million.<ref>''Supermarkets fined for price fixing'' [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/08/supermarkets.asda The Guardian], 8 December 2007. Accesed 22 January 2008</ref>

In December 2007 Asda-Wal Mart was one of several companies that were fined over £116 million after admitting that they fixed the price of milk, cheese and butter in a scandal estimated to have cost U.K. consumers about £270 million.<ref>''Supermarkets fined for price fixing'' [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/08/supermarkets.asda The Guardian], 8 December 2007. Accessed 22 January 2008</ref>

==Political contributions==

==Political contributions==