Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on tackling the shortage of heavy goods vehicle drivers in the UK workforce.

The Secretary of State has engaged with the Home Secretary specifically on this issue. We have broadened the eligibility of Skilled Worker visas to include jobs skilled and lowered the salary threshold. Modelling by the Migration Advisory Committee suggest the new, lower thresholds strike a reasonable balance between controlling immigration and business access to labour. The Committee found the job of HGV driver does not meet this threshold, so it is not eligible to be added to the Shortage Occupation List or to be sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa.