Economic Update

Harriett Baldwin Excerpts

Tuesday 17th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Rishi Sunak]

We have put £1 billion into the welfare system to provide extra financial security for those people, to speed up both access and the generosity of all those benefits.

[Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con)]

I thank the Chancellor and his team for all that has been announced today. I know that those in the retail hospitality sector in my constituency will be very pleased to hear about it.

There is a sector of the retail market that is doing incredibly well, and that is the supermarkets. Many of my constituents are worried because they rely on home deliveries from supermarkets. Can the Chancellor update us on what talks he and his colleagues are having with the supermarket industry about increasing capacity for home delivery?

[Rishi Sunak]

That is an excellent point. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is engaged in urgent talks with supermarkets to ensure the security of our food supply and to improve accessibility, particularly for those who may now be at home.