Bexhill and Battle MP and Chair of the Transport Select Committee Huw Merriman asked the Transport Secretary if the UK's effective response to COVID-19 depends on our continued ability to bring in essential goods, supplies and key workers and whether those who advocate further blanket restrictions have thought this all through.

Mr Shapps said that the UK could not "close down" its borders to tackle the pandemic in the same way as Australia, stating: 

"We wouldn't be safe because we are an island nation... and that means we need to get medicines in, we need to get food in, we need to get our raw materials in... if we weren't doing these things then we simply wouldn't be combatting the crisis."