I know how concerning this current situation is, especially when it is currently so difficult to get the essentials you need in the supermarket.

I should start by saying that the latest Government guidance is that you must now stay at home. While you are permitted to leave your house to shop for basic necessities like food and medicine, you should go as infrequently as possible and only when you really need to. Staying at home protects our NHS and will save lives.

Let me assure you that there is more than enough food to go around and our food supply chain is able to expand production to cope with increased demand. I know there have been problems with getting supplies onto the shelves, which is why the Government is asking people to only buy what they need for themselves and their families. You may also be aware that a number of major supermarkets have now put in place dedicated shopping times for elderly people or for those who work for the NHS or in the social care sector. You should check with your local store for more details on this if you think it applies to you.

The Government is working closely with representatives across the food supply chain to ensure that people have access to what they need and so that supermarkets can replenish their shelves more quickly. This includes relaxing competition rules to allow supermarkets to work together on their coronavirus response and keeping supply chain moving.

As you can appreciate, this is a fast-moving situation and the Government’s advice is regularly updated. I would strongly encourage you to check gov.uk/coronavirus for the latest information.