First Minister and SNP Leader has underlined the need for
swift action on the cost of food amidst soaring inflation –
confirming legislation will be in place this year, and
asking supermarkets to take immediate, voluntary action to
support people before Scotland's new law is in place.
With food inflation rising even before the full impact of the
Iran War is felt, the First Minister has called for supermarkets
to take immediate, voluntary action now to ensure a range of
affordable prices for people ahead of legislation being in place
within the year.
The First Minister has said that formal discussions on the fair
food price plan will take place with supermarkets, farmers and
other stakeholders within days of the SNP Government's
re-election, with legislation to set the price caps formally in
place this year.
The SNP Fair Price Plan will:
- Apply to large supermarkets
- Set a maximum price for a basket of food items, expected to
be up to 50 products
- Apply to one product in a large supermarket's range of such
products as bread, milk, eggs, cheese, rice and chicken.
- Allow supermarkets to continue to set prices on all other
food products, including other bread, milk, eggs, cheese etc as
long as one product, for example one type of bread, does not
exceed the maximum price, and not include luxury items and or
apply to every type of product.
The First Minister said:
“The cost of food is through the roof and is hurting people in
Scotland right now – and the latest inflation figures show that
it is only getting worse. It is a serious public health
issue and we will legislate.
“The SNP Government will act with a bold plan to introduce a
legal cap on the cost of essential food items as a matter of
urgent priority after the election. We will have
legislation in place this year to make essential food items more
affordable for people.
“But that does not mean people are not struggling now – every
time people get to the checkout with their messages, they are
seeing the impact. So I am asking the large supermarkets to
take immediate, voluntary action today – in advance of the new
law being in place this year.
“The big supermarkets have an opportunity to do the right thing
by people who are struggling right now and I urge them to do it
ahead of the legal cap being in place.
“Filling up a basket of essentials should not empty your pocket –
and an SNP Government on Scotland's side will take action to
support people during these tough times."
