Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to create a dedicated HGV driver task force to tackle challenges facing that industry.
There are no plans to create a dedicated HGV driver task force. Cabinet Ministers attend regular meetings organised by the Domestic and Economic Operations [DE(Ops)] Secretariat to agree measures to address the heavy goods vehicle driver shortage. The Government also engages in regular discussions and consultations with the road haulage industry to inform actions to tackle issues they are facing.
The various actions we are already taking to tackle the HGV driver shortage are working, for example all HGV driver licence applications are being turned around within the normal time of five working days and we’re seeing hundreds more people than normal apply for a licence each week.