Market Economy

The Scottish Government supports a fair economy and recognises that, already, not all goods and services in the economy operate on an unregulated free market price basis. Prices are often regulated to affect wider externalities, such as societal or environmental harms, or to ensure a fair market price for industries or sectors with natural monopolies.

Scotland faces a cost of living crisis that is disproportionately affecting vulnerable households and placing pressures on public services. Rising energy, food and housing costs have made it harder for people to maintain a reasonable standard of living. As a result, the Scottish Government is clear that it will take action, when necessary, to protect people and support those who are most impacted by the cost of living.

Jamie Langan raises a very important issue, which is the wellbeing, welfare and sustainability of those who provide the food that we put on our tables. I reassure him and other members of the Parliament that, in recognition of the significant interest that has been reflected in the number of written questions that I have received, I will engage thoroughly and comprehensively with all relevant stakeholders. My door is open, as it always is on such matters, to all members of the Parliament for deep, considered and thoughtful discussion on the policy.

Before the election, the First Minister had a fantastic visit to the farm that is operated by Cammy Wilson of “The Sheep Game”, who explained that eggs are an important strand of his farming business. Similar to the member who asked the previous question, I am looking for assurance that, as we tackle the cost of living and get affordable food in supermarkets, farmers such as Cammy will still receive a fair price for the produce that they produce and will not be squeezed by the supermarkets.

I thank Mr Brown for reiterating this important issue. I want to work constructively with all relevant stakeholders in recognising the nature of the policy and the importance of achieving effective implementation that realises the policy aim, which is to ensure that the weekly shop is affordable. I think that everyone in the chamber agrees on that aim. To that end, I would welcome the constructive engagement of members to ensure that, collectively, we achieve that policy outcome.

Does the minister share my view that the Government has a responsibility to ease the burden on households during a cost of living crisis, including through targeted interventions when a broken Brexit economy places essential goods out of the reach of Scottish households that are struggling under decades of Westminster austerity?

Paul McLennan raises a number of important points. I recognise that immediate and acute pressures on the cost of living are emanating from the war in Ukraine and will ensue from the war in Iran, but those pressures are coming after a concatenation of crises, including Brexit, austerity, the financial crash back in 2008 and the legacy of the pandemic. Although the Parliament does not have the full range of powers to address and mitigate all the impacts that are affecting people and their standard of living, it is incumbent on us to intervene, when we can, in an effective and proportionate way that supports those whom we have been elected to serve.