Select committee: Transport Committee
Recommendation 20
First Report - Road freight supply chain
Published 1 Jun 2022
Paragraph 63
Addressed to Department for Transport
Transport Committee Road freight supply chain All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The average age of HGV drivers continues to increase. Although the sector is perhaps more open to female drivers than in the past, it has largely failed to attract a diverse workforce. It is disappointing how little progress has been made since our predecessor Committee reported five years ago. That 1% of drivers are women, and only 3% of drivers are under the age of 25, should be a cause for shame for the industry and a clarion call to do more. The Supply Chain Levy we recommend, and resultant improvements in training and facilities, should assist in improving these appalling ratios. In addition, the sector must redouble its efforts to attract and retain a diverse workforce.
From: Transport Committee, First Report - Road freight supply chain (HC 162), paragraph 63, 1 June 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 30 September 2022 (deadline 1 August 2022).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government welcomes the report and sets out 33 measures on the HGV driver shortage, noting most recommendations while agreeing that more freight should move to rail and water and that industry has more to do to attract and retain talent.
- On driver training costs, the Government "notes this recommendation" and says the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence review report will be published "in due course", with its conclusions "taken forward to public consultation".
- On lorry parking, it does "not at this stage intend to set up a Government-Industry taskforce". It is launching a £32.5M matched-funding grant "later this year", with the National Lorry Parking Survey to be published "early in 2023".
- On the Supply Chain Levy, the Government "notes this recommendation" and states that "taxes are a matter for HM Treasury and all taxes are kept under review".
- On modal shift, the Government "agrees that more freight should be taken from the road and on to rail and water". It refers to a rail freight growth target on which it "will consult on shortly".