Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of skills shortage in the road haulage industry on the availability of bus drivers; and whether there has been a movement of bus drivers to drive HGVs.

Through its engagement with the sector, the Department is aware of localised driver shortages in the bus sector. The Department is working closely with industry to continuously monitor the situation, in order to better understand the extent of the problem. There is regular engagement within the Department, across Government and with industry to proactively take measures to alleviate the situation. The Government appreciates the important role that buses play within our communities and strongly encourages bus drivers to remain within the profession.