To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to outline action being taken by her Department to address the shortage of HGV drivers.

The Department for Infrastructure and the Department for Transport in GB are aware of the haulier shortage. Many of the reported problems in recruitment reported by the trade representatives are commercial in nature and will require improvements in pay and working conditions. Brexit is a factor in the haulier shortage with many EU drivers reportedly no longer working in the UK. My officials have raised this matter with the Department for the Economy to see if there is any availability of Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) apprenticeships in the North.

The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) has taken a range of measures to maximise the availability of LGV driving test slots. In addition to normal weekday slots they also now offer LGV driving tests on a Saturday and on Sundays where it is suitable to do so without compromising the integrity of the test. Overtime is also being used to rota off-shift dual role driving examiners to provide further capacity. Through increasing its capacity in May, the DVA conducted 307 LGV driving tests, which is around 20% higher than the five year average for that month.

DVA is also engaging with various LGV driver training schools in relation to test appointments. Test Centre Managers frequently liaise directly with the training schools to meet specific requirements and help address demands. Standing appointments for LGV driver training schools which were previously suspended due to Covid 19 restrictions have now been reinstated. This allows more flexibility for the industry to avail of LGV driver test appointments.

The DVA is also exploring a number of options to increase LGV examiner resources to address current demands and meet industry needs, including identifying further examiners with the relevant licence entitlements to be trained to conduct LGV Tests.