Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many temporary work visas for EU nationals have been approved this year; and how many have been requested by (1) HGV drivers, (2) fuel tanker drivers, (3) fruit and vegetable pickers, and (4) slaughterhouse workers.

We operate a global immigration system which is open to both EU and non-EU nationals.

Details of the numbers of temporary work visas granted for HGV drivers, pork butchers, and workers in edible horticulture will be published in the usual way via the Home Office’s quarterly immigration statistics.

With regards to fuel tanker drivers, I refer the Noble Lord to my response to the Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale’s question of 26 October (63690).