Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the greater use of delivery vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic

Supermarkets are responding to the extremely high demand for delivery slots and there has been considerable growth in online delivery across all supermarkets. In some cases, retailers have worked to double their number of online delivery slots available. Recent Kantar Worldpanel Data suggests that online sales now account for 10.2% of overall grocery, versus 7.4% last month, with the greatest increase among older shoppers (last 4 weeks ending 19 April 2020). These increases have ensured that everybody will have access to the food that they need. The Department welcomes the actions that industry is taking, including hiring more staff and prioritising delivery slots for those that need them most.

Additionally, Ministers have asked local authorities to show flexibility to allow extended delivery hours to supermarkets to ensure shelves can be replenished more quickly. The Government recognises that whilst the increased frequency of deliveries could have a temporary impact on local residents, this needs to be balanced by the significant public interest in ensuring local residents have continued access to food and other essential goods in their local shops.