Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies is supporting a petition, which has gathered more than 60,000 signatures in just a few days, calling on the Welsh Government to allow supermarkets to sell “non-essential” items during lockdown.
James, who has previously asked the Labour Welsh Government to provide the evidence for its 17-day firebreak and travel restrictions, has now called into question the First Minister’s decision to prevent the selling on all non-essential items during the lockdown period and is urging him to review his decision.
James said:
“This ban is ludicrous. It is causing much inconvenience to my constituents, who have been contacting me over the weekend, outraged that they are unable to purchase basic everyday items such as books, stationery, batteries and clothing.
“Just because we are in lockdown doesn’t mean that these items are not required. Many people will be working from home during this period, including some children during and after the half term holiday, so access to office equipment and stationery is, contrary to what the First Minister believes, essential.
“The same is true for clothing, particularly for younger children who have a tendency to rip and damage items.
“People are suffering enough without these basic items, such as books, being taken from them. It also isn't right that local jobs are put at risk, to the benefit of online stores only.
“The First Minister needs to listen to the wishes of the 60,000 plus people who have signed this petition and urgently review his stance on this.”
James also questioned the need for the banning of non-essential retail, gyms, and travel in last week’s joint meeting the Science and Technology and Health and Social Care Committee, when he questioned witnesses over transmission settings.
He said:
“I have seen a number of studies, whether through Test and Trace data or through self-reported settings, about where people have been in the previous week and where they think they have contracted Covid. They are somewhat conflicting. Clearly, there is strong evidence for indoor transmission - we all know that - but when it comes to hospitality there seem to be wildly different views. Also, non-essential retail, gyms and travel, for instance, have all been banned in Wales, but the evidence does not seem to point in the direction of those being particularly relevant.”
He was told by Dr Clare Gardiner, Director, Joint Biosecurity Centre, that “We will be looking keenly at all information from across Government, the local level and academia to see whether the interventions are biting.”
James is also concerned about the negative impacts arising from lockdown on mental health, other medical problems and mass unemployment and also raised this in the meeting, as well as questioning witnesses on circuit breakers, and how long any circuit breaker would need to be to be effective.
