Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S7W-00247

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to the reported comment from the Federation of Independent Retailers that the proposal “will distort trade and do nothing to help shops or their customers”.

Question reference: S7W-00136

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what other regulatory and legislative measures affecting grocery retailers are due to come into effect.

The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 will commence provisions extending the existing Retail Register, so that any retailer selling nicotine products and herbal smoking products must register in the same way as retailers selling tobacco and vaping products are already required to do.

The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 will commence on 1 October 2026. These regulatory measures will restrict the promotion and placement of food and drink products which are high in fat, salt and sugar. Restrictions will apply to qualifying retailers with 50 employees or more.

Question reference: S7W-00131

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the interactions with other food or public health regulations with regards to the products that would be in scope of a statutory price cap on essential food items, if this were to be enacted as per the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment.

Question reference: S7W-00132

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, whether the proposal will extend to distance sales or products purchased out with Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-00138

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what it anticipates the impact might be on farmgate prices from the policy.

Question reference: S7W-00133

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, how prices would be set and who would take that decision.

Question reference: S7W-00097

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what discussions it has had with the Groceries Code Adjudicator regarding this proposal.

Question reference: S7W-00134

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, how this policy would interact with existing rules on competition and avoid collusion and price fixing, which are designed to protect shoppers.

Question reference: S7W-00129

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what discussions it has had with the Competition and Markets Authority regarding this proposal.

Question reference: S7W-00137

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party's 2026 manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what it anticipates the administrative implications might be for grocery staff from its implementation.