Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward proposals to introduce a system of grant funding for the training of professional freight drivers.

The road haulage sector provides a vital economic service, and its effectiveness is of crucial importance for a whole range of other industrial, commercial and service businesses in the UK as well as ensuring essential goods can be provided to the general public.

I am aware of the concerns that the industry has about recruitment of drivers, and the Government is looking into this matter to understand better why this has occurred and whether there is anything that it would be appropriate for Government to do in this area.