Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Horticultural Trade Association on the (a) re-opening of garden centres and (b) effect of the closure of garden centres on small horticultural suppliers; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is keeping the situation on garden centres under review but concluded last week that it was too early to ease any restrictions on such retail environments. We will continue to work closely with representatives from the horticulture supply chain, including the HTA, to understand what short-term and long-term support the sector as a whole needs.

At all times we have been consistently guided by scientific advice to protect lives and we will continue to work together on how best to ease measures when the time is right to do so.