Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Supermarket Supply Chains

Tuesday 19 May 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial measures include working with retailers and suppliers to secure supply chains and introducing temporary relaxations in competition law and delivery hour regulations.
  • Priority testing for COVID-19 is available to all essential workers, including those in the food supply chain and food retail.
  • The shortage of experienced workers needed to pick crops is estimated at around 70,000, with only about a third of the usual east European workforce present.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Simmonds Con Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Business & Trade
Context

The MP is concerned about the maintenance of supermarket supply chains amid the pandemic.

Question

What steps are being taken to ensure the maintenance of supermarket supply chains during the covid-19 outbreak?

Answer from George Eustice

We have worked closely with retailers and suppliers to ensure the security of supply chains, introduced temporary measures such as relaxations in competition law, extended delivery hour regulations, and published guidance for workplace safety. Staff are working around the clock to ensure food availability.

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Q2 David Simmonds Con Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about access to priority testing for staff working in the food supply and retail.

Question

To support the resilience of supermarkets and food shops, what steps are being taken to ensure that people who work in food supply and food retail can access priority testing for covid-19?

Answer from George Eustice

All essential workers, including those in the food supply chain, are eligible for testing. Employees who are self-isolating can apply for a test online or through their employer referral.

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Q3 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the shortfall of experienced pickers for UK crops due to the dismantling of the seasonal agricultural workers scheme and the current pandemic.

Question

With an alarming shortfall of 70,000 experienced people needed to pick our crops, can the Secretary of State tell us what those figures are today and what is his plan B?

Answer from George Eustice

We estimate that only about a third of the usual east European workforce is present, so we need a British workforce to step up. Employers are recruiting more British workers with G's salads currently having over 400 British people working on its farms.

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