Government believed to be looking at measures to tackle shortage of HGV drivers

The government is believed to be considering bringing forward a review of its Shortage of Occupation list to tackle the shortage of HGV drivers.

A review of the list, which sets out jobs where overseas workers can apply for visas, is not due until 2022.

But reports suggest proposals to bring forward the review to ease supply chain issues are being considered.

Image: McDonald’s said it had run out of milkshakes earlier this week

At present, HGV drivers are not on the list.

It comes as some supermarkets and suppliers are struggling to meet demand after many HGV drivers from EU countries left the UK during the coronavirus pandemic and have not returned.

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A government spokesperson said the country has “a highly resilient food supply chain and well-established ways of working with the food sector to address food supply chain disruptions”.

Driver shortages have hit several retailers and food chains.

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Nando’s had to deal with a shortage of chickens due to a combination of not enough drivers and fewer staff working in meet factories, and McDonald’s earlier this week said it had run out of milkshakes and bottled drinks.

KFC and Greggs have also been impacted.

Image: A government spokesperson said the country has ‘a highly resilient food supply chain’

Retailers including Amazon, Tesco and Marks & Spencer have introduced incentives to entice people to drive for them, such as signing-on bonuses.

And some supermarkets have warned prices in stores could go up as drivers wages rise.

The PA news agency reported that several government departments are liaising over the supply chain issues but that there has been “a lot of pushback” from the Home Office.

Government officials are said to be working closely with the DVLA to increase the number of driving tests taking place to allow more individuals to be recruited.

Driving test centres came to a standstill for much of last year during the peak of the pandemic.

The government have also increased funding for apprentices to get more workers into the industry.

Image: Greggs has also been impacted by supply chain issues

A government spokesperson said: “We have a highly resilient food supply chain and well-established ways of working with the food sector to address food supply chain disruptions.

“We recently announced a package of measures to help tackle the HGV driver shortage, including plans to streamline the process for new drivers to gain their HGV licence and to increase the number of driving tests able to be conducted.

“However, most of the solutions are likely to be driven by industry, with progress already being made in testing and hiring, and a big push towards improving pay, working conditions and diversity.

“We want to see employers make long term investments in the UK domestic workforce instead of relying on labour from abroad and our Plan for Jobs is helping people across the country retrain, build new skills and get back into work.”