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<p>The Government has put in place measures to ensure that those identified by the
NHS as being extremely clinically vulnerable and who are without a support network
of friends and family receive basic food and essential supplies. We have passed the
data of these individuals (in line with data protection regulations) to supermarkets,
who are placing these customers at the front of the queue for online delivery slots.
Currently, customers must be registered with a supermarket to be prioritised in this
way, but we are working with supermarkets to agree a process to allocate customers
who are not registered for support.</p><p>We are working quickly to support people
who do not fall into the category of being clinically vulnerable, but still need help
getting essential food supplies. We are working with industry, charities, other Government
departments and Devolved Administrations to ensure whatever support is needed is delivered
in a coordinated and consistent manner. We welcome measures that supermarkets have
put in place to support the elderly and other vulnerable groups, including prioritising
them for online delivery slots.</p><p>Many people are already being well supported
by their friends, families, neighbours and local communities. We are working with
retailers and the voluntary sector to ensure that people are supported to shop for
others safely.</p><p>Most supermarkets offer protected in-store shopping hours for
key workers, including NHS staff and care workers, the elderly and other vulnerable
groups.</p>
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