First Minister John Swinney has opened the door to a “voluntary” food price cap scheme to ensure the measure is in place quicker.
The SNP announced plans to legislate to put price ceilings on up to 50 items in large supermarkets at its manifesto launch last week.
The policy was immediately met with scepticism from the industry and described by the UK Government as “undeliverable”, with a potential legal battle with retailers on the horizon.
But speaking to journalists on Wednesday, the First Minister suggested he could prefer a scheme where supermarkets sign on to cap the cost of some foods.
“I accept there’s the risk of legal challenge, but there’s also other ways to make some headway,” he said.
“I like to find those ways to make progress in improving people’s lives.”
Asked if he could opt for a voluntary scheme, the First Minister added: “Obviously, I think it stands to reason that would get quicker progress, because legislation, in whatever shape or form we’d take it in, would take a bit of time.
“But voluntary steps would be quicker.”
The comments come less than 24 hours after the First Minister said the price cap policy would be passed into legislation by the end of the year.
Speaking at the STUC Congress in Dundee, Mr Swinney said: “I will use public health powers to introduce a maximum price for essential food items.
“We will convene a gathering of supermarkets, public health experts, poverty campaigners and farmers within days of forming the next government, and the legislation for the price cap will be in place this year.”
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