// Boris Johnson to speak to grocery bosses on efforts to keep supplies flowing & panic buying
// It is understood the PM wants to see what the government can do
// Follows recent government announcement to relax working hours for supply chain drivers for a month
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be speaking to supermarket bosses about efforts to keep supplies flowing and how to overcome the panic buying that is gripping the UK during the coronavirus pandemic.
Shelves have been stripped of essential items, such as toilet rolls, hand sanitisers, paracetamol, meat, fruit and vegetables, rice and pasta as shoppers ignore pleas not to stockpile.
It has led to supermarkets having to bring in limits on the amount of some items sold, with protected shopping hours introduced to help the elderly and NHS and care workers.
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Stores are also taking on thousands of temporary and permanent workers to deal with the increased demand from the Covid-19 crisis.
It is understood the PM would be speaking to the leading supermarket chains to see what the government can do to ensure the shelves remain stocked and the supply chains can cope with the demand.
The Road Haulage Association has also welcomed an announcement by the Department of Transport to relax the working hours for drivers for a month from March 23 until April 21.
Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Sainbsury’s have announced a protected shopping hour for NHS and social care workers, so they can join older and vulnerable shoppers in having less competition for restocked shelves.
It comes after critical care nurse Dawn Bilbrough, from York, made a heartfelt plea for shoppers to stop stockpiling, in a video which circulated on social media on Thursday.
In the video, she is seen crying after visiting a supermarket following a 48-hour hospital shift to find there were no fruit or vegetables.
Meanwhile, Morrisons is taking on up to 500 staff from Marie Curie and CLIC Sargent charity shops to help the elderly and vulnerable in its supermarkets.
They will be working alongside Morrisons’ army of community champions who currently work with local charities and community groups.
And to thank NHS workers and community groups for their hard work, Lidl is giving away thousands of bunches of Mother’s Day flowers.
It is hoped that easing the restrictions on the haulage industry would help to keep supplies moving and the supermarkets fully stocked as the panic buying shows no signs of waning.
“This is a blanket relaxation covering all sectors and recognises how integrated and inter-dependent supply chains are across the whole economy,” Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett said.
“The sector is working as efficiently and as quickly possible.
“This relaxation improves resilience in a way that ensure all goods can reach the area where they are needed.
“Shortages are not the problem at the moment – the problem lies with supplying the current excess demand for goods caused by panic buying. This just creates bottlenecks that undermine efficient delivery schedules.
“The relaxation in hours will not reduce the levels of enforcement of the drivers’ hours.
“It is vital that companies only use these relaxed rules when needed and companies must monitor drivers to ensure they do not drive tired or in any way unfit. This relaxation must be used wisely, not abused recklessly.”
Burnett said the relaxation was introduced following a meeting between the RHA and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
with PA Wires
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