Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of possible reductions in skilled immigration from the EU into the road-based logistics sector; and if he will make a statement.

The Government has not undertaken a formal assessment. While the Government acknowledges that any changes to arrangements for EU workers will be a factor in the availability of skilled staff for road haulage, it is not the only factor. As noted in the Government’s response to the Transport Committee’s report on skills and workforce planning in the road haulage sector, there are encouraging signs. For example there were about 10,000 more HGV driving test passes in 2015/16 compared to two years before, in response to the higher demand for HGV drivers and the shortages. In addition the industry has developed a new Trailblazer Apprenticeship standard for HGV drivers to be funded through the Apprenticeship Levy.