Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) how HGV drivers’ average earnings in the UK compare to those in the rest of Europe, and (2) how many European HGV drivers are likely to apply to the temporary visa scheme to work in the UK; and what steps they are taking to incentivise take-up of the scheme.

4700 visas will be available for HGV drivers delivering food ahead of Christmas 2021. Defra is not going to provide a running commentary on scheme take-up. However, industry engagement has been positive.

Defra continues to work with other Government departments and industries and has already taken action to support the road haulage sector with measures to help to attract new drivers, simplify training, and to encourage people to return to or stay in the industry. The Government encourages all sectors to make employment more attractive to UK domestic workers through offering training, careers options, attractive wages and good working conditions.