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Can the Scottish government cap food prices?published at 11:47 BST<\/p>\nCan the Scottish government cap food prices?published at 11:47 BST<\/p>\n
11:47 BST<\/p>\n
BBC Scotland: Phil Sim<\/p>\n
John Swinney says an SNP government would set up a
\n\u201cmaximum price for essential food items\u201d, listing bread, milk, cheese,
\neggs, rice and chicken as examples.<\/p>\n
How would this work?<\/p>\n
Mr Swinney believes the government can do this by using its public
\nhealth powers, in a similar fashion to their move to put a minimum price on
\nalcohol sold in shops.<\/p>\n
It would work by requiring supermarkets to offer one example line
\nof a set group of essential items at a capped price. Shops could still sell
\nother varieties of the same item at higher prices.<\/p>\n
The latest figures published by the Office The UK government has been drawing up \n It is worth nothing that the minimum unit pricing system cited by He has acknowledged there is a \u201clive issue\u201d in terms of the And there is a constitutional hurdle in the UK Internal Markets It means Scottish ministers would likely need an exemption from
\nfor National Statistics, external<\/a> show the UK\u2019s inflation rate (the annual
\npercentage change in prices) for food and non-alcoholic drinks was 3.3% – this
\nmeans food prices were 3.3% higher in February 2026 than they were in February
\n2025. <\/p>\n
\nworst-case scenario plans<\/a> for potential food shortages if the Iran war
\ncontinues.<\/p>\n
\nMr Swinney took
\nsix years to come into force<\/a>, due to legal challenges in the courts.<\/p>\n
\npotential impact on farmers and food producers as well as owners of small
\nshops.<\/p>\n
\nAct, which seeks to maintain a level playing field for businesses north and
\nsouth of the border.<\/p>\n
\ninternal market rules in order to set this system up.<\/p>\n