Petition · past parliament
Provide all 'Key Workers' with special shopping hours
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
Many key workers are working long shifts, caring for the vulnerable, stocking shelves, delivering goods, keeping schools open. They should be given special shopping hours where shelves will be stocked to allow them to buy provisions for themselves, something that they are unable to do due to work.
Many key workers are struggling to buy foods and other key items that they require due to the panic buying. All key workers, who are keeping the country functioning (teachers, NHS staff, delivery drivers etc). These people deserve the right to have access to fully stocked shelves, to purchase what they need.
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
The opening and delivery arrangements for supermarkets are a matter for individual retailers, not the Government or Parliament. A number of retailers have announced plans to prioritise elderly or vulnerable customers, and NHS workers. Customers should contact their local supermarket to find out if they have put such arrangements in place.
The Government has made certain changes to enable supermarkets to work together during the coronavirus outbreak, particularly to serve customers who are elderly, ill or vulnerable: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/supermarkets-to-join-forces-to-feed-the-nation
We have published a petition calling on the Government to supply NHS key frontline staff working during Covid-19 healthy food hampers, which you might like to sign: Supply NHS key frontline staff working during Covid-19 healthy food hampers
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips.
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/
Read correspondence with Government Ministers asking further questions: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
The Government has made certain changes to enable supermarkets to work together during the coronavirus outbreak, particularly to serve customers who are elderly, ill or vulnerable: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/supermarkets-to-join-forces-to-feed-the-nation
We have published a petition calling on the Government to supply NHS key frontline staff working during Covid-19 healthy food hampers, which you might like to sign: Supply NHS key frontline staff working during Covid-19 healthy food hampers
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips.
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/
Read correspondence with Government Ministers asking further questions: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
Timeline
| 20 Mar 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 20 Apr 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
20 Apr 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.