Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what criteria were used to define essential retail in relation to the guidance issued on the additional public health restrictions which came into force on 5 November 2020 in England.

The decision to close non-essential retail is part of a wider package of measures to make clear that people should stay at home except for a limited set of exemptions – allowing non-essential retail to remain open would run contrary to that aim. These restrictions?have been?brought in because we?have to?limit social contact.

All shops can continue to offer home delivery and click and collect services to customers.