Question reference: S5W-30934
- Date lodged: 27 July 2020
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 August 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue distributing food boxes to people who have been shielding from the COVID-19 pandemic, and what its policy is regarding items distributed that the recipient says were not required or not used.
Answer
Free grocery boxes were made available to people who were shielding from COVID-19 to support them in following the shielding advice. For logistical reasons, these were standardised boxes. In those circumstances, it was recognised that some people could choose not to use all of the items supplied.
We confirmed on 8 June that this support will remain as long as the shielding advice remains in place. Shielding was paused from 1 August and the grocery box service stopped on 31 July.
We are considering the support requirements of the shielding group in the event of future local or national lockdowns. In the meantime, all people who were shielding were told that they could visit shops from 24 July. People who registered for priority supermarket delivery slots by 31 July continue to have access to these slots. Anyone needing urgent assistance with food or other groceries can continue to contact their local authority.