Food prices

That this House is concerned at the lagging inflationary impact arising from the US President's reckless conflict with Iran which experts will predict will see food prices escalate considerably over the coming months; welcomes the increasing political attention being paid to the need for action to protect communities from the impact of such price rises following developments in both Holyrood and Westminster; condemns the self-interested hostility shown by retail industry lobbyists not only to the proposal for a statutory cap on the cost of essential foodstuffs in Scotland but even of the mere suggestion that they might consider a voluntary scheme; recognises that supermarkets make huge gross profits and must not be allowed to ramp up share dividend payments at the expense of households across the country struggling to feed themselves; notes that food price controls have historically been considered a moderate step to protect living standards from the impact of escalating inflation, previously used under a Conservative government under Edward Heath; and therefore joins the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union in supporting the case for urgent policy interventions whilst also protecting the incomes of food suppliers, manufacturers and their workers.