1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the skills shortage in the haulage industry? OQ56736

We are extremely concerned by reports of widespread skills shortages across the logistics sector, especially drivers, and the knock-on impacts this could have on critical supply chains, including food. We are working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure Wales's food supply chains are protected.

Well, the shortage of lorry drivers is a direct result of poor planning by the UK Tory Brexit Government. A major Welsh haulier firm based in my region has lost 50 drivers who were EU citizens as they did not meet the UK's new criteria for skilled worker visas. While we know more than ever lorry drivers are key workers, stocking our supermarkets, delivering our packages and keeping the economy moving, the shortage of drivers is already causing real issues in the agricultural sector, and unless the UK Government urgently gets to grips with this problem, we will see empty supermarket shelves sooner rather than later, especially in the rural and remote communities in my region. So, what discussions has the Welsh Government had with UK Ministers about the need to resolve the looming crisis, and what can we do here in Wales to mitigate the impact of Tory Brexit policy failure?

Joyce Watson raises a very important point, and, certainly within my own portfolio, I made lots of representations to the UK Government in the previous Government term—regular meetings with the Secretary of State in DEFRA. Clearly, there are a number of complex reasons, I think, behind the shortage, including pay and working conditions. But I think, certainly, the situation has been very exacerbated by the mass exodus of EU workers from the UK as a result of the very thin trade deal that was given to us by the UK Government. There are indications that very many HGV drivers are in their mid 50s, for instance, and, of course, as they approach retirement, when furlough concludes as well, they might then choose to retire. 

I am meeting with the DEFRA Secretary of State again next week, and I've asked for this item to be on the agenda, but officials do work very closely with their counterparts in the UK Government to try and understand the situation. I'm also meeting again with the food retail sector particularly, because this is something that the supermarkets are becoming increasingly concerned about. 

Minister, the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns across the United Kingdom resulted in a loss of months of driver training and the cancellation of 28,000 HGV driver tests. This has undermined efforts to grow the pool of 300,000 qualified lorry drivers in the UK, which is urgently needed as a third of those drivers are over 55 and, as you mentioned, heading for retirement. The Road Haulage Association claims there appears to have been an obstructive and hostile approach from the educational establishment over several years to HGV apprenticeships and has called for increased funding for apprenticeships for those drivers. What discussions have you had with ministerial colleagues, and others, to ensure HGV driver apprenticeships are given the funding and support that they actually need? Thank you.

So, again, that's a very important issue, and certainly, as a Welsh Government—and you'll be aware that a lot of the issues you raised in your question are reserved to the UK Government—with the levers that we have, for instance, we've ensured that our ReAct programme has funded several hundred HGV drivers. So, those discussions are ongoing. We've also approved a request for Neath Port Talbot College to offer courses in driving goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles. But I know that ministerial colleagues have been urging the UK Government to ensure that the backlog of tests that you referred to is addressed in the very near future.

I've been contacted by a north Wales haulage company regarding this issue, and it highlighted two key factors. The first, as Joyce mentioned, is Brexit and the fact the UK Government desperately needs to rethink its position on skilled worker visas. But the second, which I would like to ask about, is how we can encourage more people to go into this line of employment, by recognising it as the high-skilled and essential line of work that it is. And we have a real issue in terms of secure places for drivers to stop and rest. How can we improve conditions for drivers, such as free or affordable HGV parking, and access to basic services, such as showers, toilet facilities and reasonably priced food, to ensure drivers are safe on our roads? Diolch.

Thank you. You heard my answer to Natasha Asghar around the ReAct programme funding of vocational training. That has equipped unemployed individuals with the skills that are sought by recruiting employers. It is a highly skilled job, as you say, and it's really important that we do all we can to encourage people to choose this career. I think the point you make around ensuring there are adequate parking, overnight parking, places to have showers, is very important. And certainly, in my own constituency, I know there's a call for that to happen on the Wrexham industrial estate, because unfortunately we do see people just pulling over and not having facilities to rest properly, to eat properly, and certainly to shower. We will continue to promote ReAct to employers and individuals who are unemployed or have been made redundant. We will also encourage recruitment via Careers Wales, because it is an essential line of work. And in conjunction with the Wales union learning fund, we'll continue to work with our trade unions regarding the terms and conditions of the workforce, and, where appropriate, provide additional support for the issues that you've raised.