Question reference: S5O-04331
- Asked by: Maurice Corry, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 18 March 2020
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 March 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with supermarkets regarding any support they may require to ensure there is an adequate food supply during the current pandemic.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working closely with retailers and local government to ensure food and supplies remain available across all of Scotland. We have acted to enable local authorities to relax restrictions on delivery hours, delivery driver working hours, and shop opening times to help and to allow shoppers more opportunity to access supplies out of normal business hours.
Retailers have assured me that there is sufficient stock within the system and what we are seeing just now is a symptom of the unprecedented demand. That could be greatly eased if shoppers buy just what they need and I ask everyone to shop considerately and locally to support our food and drink retailers and producers where they can.