The next item is the debate on the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee report: 'A new direction for HGV Drivers'. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion—Paul Davies.

Motion NDM7961 Paul Davies

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on its inquiry: 'A new direction for HGV Drivers', which was laid in the Table Office on 25 January 2022.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I move the motion tabled in my name.

Dirprwy Lywydd, if Members cast their minds back to last autumn, they will remember the supply chain issues that were affecting our lives: certain shops running out of specific products, some petrol forecourts running dry, and emergency efforts by the Welsh and UK Governments to intervene and support our vital supply chains. The committee decided to hold an inquiry into these supply chain issues and have published a report, 'A New Direction for HGV Drivers: Addressing HGV drivers shortages and related supply chain issues'.

Now, during our inquiry we found the issues that lead to the supply chain breakdowns were numerous and complex. They included the pandemic, new trading arrangements following our exit from the EU, and even global events such as the ship, the Ever Given, blocking the Suez canal. However, a key reason for the disruption was a shortage of HGV drivers.

HGV drivers are the backbone of our logistics network and, as we saw last year, several issues came together to cause a shortage of drivers. The committee heard that, pre pandemic, there was a shortage of between 60,000 to 100,000 drivers in the UK. This historic shortfall was one of the key issues that had led to the acute driver shortage. However, Logistics UK made it clear that the combination of the end of EU membership and the end of the EU transition period, along with the COVID pandemic, transformed this shortage into an acute crisis. These issues were then compounded further when HGV driving tests were paused during the pandemic, causing a backlog and a 10-week wait for an examination.

And so the industry faced a perfect storm in 2020-21, when several issues coalesced at the same time. The committee decided to focus on those issues, as ensuring Wales has enough HGV drivers will be vital if we want to keep supply chains open and avoid similar breakdowns in the future. Our inquiry was short and focused. The committee took evidence from a number of organisations, including hauliers, business owners and trade unions. We also engaged directly with current and former HGV drivers, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave evidence to the inquiry.

The feedback we received from the engagement with drivers was very powerful and enlightening. I won't repeat exactly what some of the participants said, for fear of being ejected from this Chamber. However, it's clear that there are several issues with the current experience of being a HGV driver. A lot of the themes that shone through from the drivers were echoed, though in more parliamentary language, by other stakeholders.

Now, the report makes 11 recommendations around improving the training and working conditions of HGV drivers. The committee looks to the Welsh Government's forthcoming logistics and freight plan as an opportunity to implement these. And I will briefly go over some of the recommendations shortly. The committee believes that if these recommendations are met, then this will improve the experience of being a HGV driver and create a more attractive career option for those currently in, and those thinking of entering, the profession, thus attracting new, and retaining existing drivers in the industry.

The committee recommends improving driver training and continuous professional development in order to bring new entrants into the industry and to help the career progression of those already driving. The Welsh Government must work with industry to build on existing apprenticeship programmes and increase access to new drivers.

One of the key areas of concern raised by drivers was the overall experience of driving a HGV. They talked about poor-quality rest stops with bad but expensive food, dirty facilities and often a lack of security. One of the most worrying pieces of evidence we heard was that drivers view assault and robbery as an occupational hazard, which is totally unacceptable. One driver told us that, and I quote,

'You can’t sleep properly when you're worried about being robbed. Every little noise wakes you up. Nobody wants to drive tired.'

Another driver told us, and I quote again:

'I’ve been robbed over 10 times. It’s a horrible thing to admit but you expect it. The last time they slashed three holes in the curtain big enough to drive a vehicle through, half my load was on the layby ready to be stolen. Even the police see it as an occupational hazard. As drivers we just accept it.'

Well, Dirprwy Lywydd, HGV drivers shouldn't have to just accept it. The Welsh Government must quickly work with their partners to improve rest facilities for drivers and ensure that those facilities are as safe as possible. This should include surveying existing provision, filling gaps where they exist and working to develop a voluntary standards system so that drivers can easily find out the quality and security level of a rest stop.

As mentioned earlier, the Welsh Government’s transport strategy, 'Llwybr Newydd', contains a commitment to create a new logistics and freight plan. Considering the pressing shortage of drivers, the committee feels that the new plan should be prioritised.

Now, I am pleased to say that the Welsh Government have accepted all the recommendations in our report. However, I am concerned that the most pressing recommendations, for example, the survey of rest stops and work to fill gaps in provision, will be implemented as part of the logistics and freight plan, which is only due to be completed by 2024. I urge the Government to prioritise these areas of the plan and, if possible, push these elements of work forwards before 2024. This is absolutely vital.

Last month, I received a letter from the organisation Displaced People in Action, who informed me that many of the Afghan people who arrived in Wales last year have experience driving large vehicles and would be interested in careers as HGV drivers. I have written to the relevant Ministers regarding this and I look forward to a response in due course. Whilst the situation with the arrivals of refugees from Ukraine is still developing, it may be pertinent for the Government to think about extending anything offered to arrivals from Afghanistan to people who arrive from Ukraine as well.

From keeping food on our shelves to delivering essential medical supplies, it is fair to say that HGV drivers were some of the unsung heroes of the pandemic. The implementation of this report's recommendations would improve driver experience and entry into the industry. Whilst the issues we experienced before Christmas have been largely resolved, supply chains are still creaking and we do live in turbulent times. It is not possible to predict if and when another shock will hit our global supply chains. This means that it is exceptionally important that we concentrate on shoring up parts of the system we have control over.

As a member of the economy committee, I'd like to start by echoing the thanks of our Chair, Paul Davies, to all those who took part in or supported our inquiry. It's a really important subject, at its core investigating something that touches the lives of all citizens in Wales on a daily basis, that is, how goods and products get on our shelves in our communities, and how we treat those people who play a crucial role in transporting those goods, how we make sure that they are valued and supported and can access appropriate facilities during those oh-so-precious moments of rest; important for their well-being, but also for their safety and the safety of others.

For my contribution to today's debate, I want to draw out three strands of our work that strike me as especially important. Firstly, recommendation 1 around training and apprenticeships: I recognise the Welsh Government's comments in their response that their ability to intervene in this specific policy area, in this specific issue, is limited due to responsibilities being reserved. However, as their response goes on to note, this recommendation chimes with Welsh Government policy around skills and of course the headline apprenticeship pledge for this Senedd term.

A number of interventions such as the personal learning account, ReAct, and logistics apprenticeships were mentioned in the Welsh Government's response, and I'd be keen to know from the Deputy Minister how Welsh Government is drawing attention to these courses for people who work in or are interested in working in the sector. Publicising these opportunities is so important if we are going to address that 50,000 shortfall in driver numbers.

Similarly, recommendations 7 and 8 are largely reserved matters, but where the central issues at their core align with Welsh Government priorities around the fair work agenda, and I'd really welcome further detail on how the Welsh Government is engaging with relevant trade unions to lobby UK Ministers, so that the aspirations shared between the committee and Welsh Ministers can be met.

I also want to briefly consider recommendations 3 to 5, all dealing with the provision of adequate rest stops. These recommendations are, I feel, key to this piece of work. As the committee heard, discomfort caused by inadequate rest facilities or even a complete absence is one of the biggest push factors encouraging HGV drivers to leave the industry.

I want to briefly illustrate my point by referring to one of my childhood heroes, and that is the feminist icon, Long Distance Clara. Those who recall Pigeon Street may remember Long Distance Clara was the stereotype-smashing, juggernaut-driving long-distance lorry driver who could drive pole to pole, east to west; nowhere was too far for Clara. However, her success was perhaps built on the hot dinner of which she could be sure at her journey's end. And the important role she played, the distances she could be expected to travel, were made bearable by moments of rest and relaxation that could be incorporated into her journey.

The point is a serious one, because the drivers who gave evidence to us raised a litany of concerns about the lack of safe places to park. When there were places to park, facilities could be substandard and not fit for purpose. We were told about broken showers, broken tiles and dirty wash facilities and the Road Haulage Association spoke of stops not even having toilets. And then, perhaps most seriously of all, these facilities were not safe, with—as our Chair has mentioned—witnesses saying that they'd been robbed up to 10 times. This is simply not good enough.

I'm pleased that the Welsh Government accepted our recommendations. However, I'd welcome any additional information that could be given around timescales to deliver these improvements, so that HGV drivers can access safe facilities that are fit for purpose, and we can remove that particular barrier that is having such an impact. Thank you.

I'd like to begin by thanking my colleague and committee Chair, the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire, for his excellent chairmanship throughout this inquiry. I would also like to thank the committee clerks and staff for their support.

I believe this, the committee's first report, is incredibly strong. I recall during our committee's brainstorming future-work-programme meetings that the HGV driver shortage was raised as supermarkets, filling stations and other supply chains were being squeezed due to the shortage of drivers. The idea of holding a short, sharp and snappy inquiry into this matter arose from the immediate pressures being felt and our desire to learn what the Welsh Government can do to help recruit and retain these valuable drivers.

The evidence gathered was hugely valuable, and I'm grateful to those who contributed, especially those HGV drivers who have offered their vital first-hand evidence and experience about the situation on the ground. We shouldn't underestimate the importance of key witness accounts, as their words carry so much value. It was these HGV drivers that kept the country moving throughout the pandemic. They helped keep shelves stocked, and they are the ones that have the best grasp over the situation that this report seeks to depict. The document identifies the key issues facing HGV drivers in Wales. It also provides practical and deliverable recommendations that I would encourage the Government to seriously consider.

Turning to the report itself, the Chair rightly highlights the impact of leaving the European Union and the COVID-19 pandemic that followed. However, the conditions in which these drivers operated existed long before either of these two events occurred. A pre-existing chronic shortage of HGV drivers amplified these acute and unprecedented events, which were critical factors in the subsequent supply chain issues that followed.

There are 11 recommendations that the Welsh Government can implement to safeguard the future of Wales's supply chain. I want to use my contribution today to focus solely on the experience of our HGV drivers, an important factor should we want to make this sector as lucrative and appealing as possible to the next generation of drivers. One of the HGV drivers who gave evidence about the experience of drivers said, and I quote:

'It's disgusting we are treated like animals no descent facilities hours are very unsociable no work life balance most drivers end up divorced'.

Is it really any surprise that we're facing critical recruitment shortages if this is the experience of a HGV driver? These conditions are not reflective of a modern and rewarding working environment.

We must also move away from the common misconception that service stations are only found along the M4 in south Wales. Freight moves north to south just as much as it travels east to west, and the A55 serves as a major freight route in north Wales. And it is a lottery when it comes to the quality of the services. For every service station that has clean and welcoming amenities, there is, sadly, another that does not. It's little wonder that this was raised by HGV drivers, and I'm surprised that the Welsh Government aren't aware of these discrepancies in service station and parking-site quality, because there isn't a Welsh Government survey of parking sites—something that the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK have expressed their concerns about in their evidence to the committee. I would encourage the Welsh Government to accept recommendation 3 and create a detailed inventory of locations and facilities similar to what is available across the border.

I encourage the Deputy Minister to reflect on the contents on this report and recognise the high quality of its content, contributions and conclusion, and I urge the Welsh Government to accept the recommendations made by the committee and commit to implementing them as a matter of urgency. Diolch.

In the first instance, as a member of the committee, I wanted to thank those who gave evidence and, of course, the clerks, et cetera, for their work on this and putting this report together. And, of course, thank you to our committee Chair for his work on this and presenting the report to the Senedd today.

I wanted to touch on two particular aspects of the report. In the first instance, the evidence we had taken from drivers themselves was striking and very informative, especially when it came to highlighting some of the negative experiences on the road, most notably was the quality and lack of rest areas, which representatives of the haulage industry agreed was an issue, as well as driver safety in these areas. We heard about substandard wash facilities, with broken tiles and showers. We heard about the risk of being robbed when parked overnight, with one driver highlighting that he had been robbed over 10 times, as we've heard already, and that is accepted as an occupational hazard. That's unbelievable that that is the case in this sector. So, I was pleased to see that the Welsh Government accepted our recommendations from 3 to 6. Whilst this doesn't rectify the issue in the short term, it will go a long way to ensuring that we can create safer and cleaner places to rest for HGV drivers in the future, but I do hope the Welsh Government moves on this as soon as possible.

On driver work hours and conditions, I think there was a very clear disconnect between what haulage representatives were telling us was happening and what drivers were telling us was their reality, which, I have to say, as a former worker in the hospitality sector, doesn't surprise me at all. If you ever want to learn about the reality of work, you can't go far wrong with actually speaking to those who are working the day-to-day. Members will see on page 9 of the report the rules around driving hours, but drivers themselves were clear that employers often push them to front-load hours to remain within their average allowance. Often, that meant working 60-hour weeks, which is both physically and mentally draining. We have some work to do in tackling this, so again, I'm glad that the Government has accepted our recommendations on this front, and I would urge them to act on those recommendations as soon as possible.

Finally, a separate point to the report, but an important point for us to note, is that capacity element to training drivers. Both Rhun ap Iorwerth and I have spoken about this issue since the publication of our report as a committee, and he's highlighted a local issue in his area. Local to Rhun, they have waiting lists for tests of up to and exceeding 10 weeks. A trainer has recently left his post in the area, meaning it will become increasingly difficult for trainee drivers to book a test. Couple this with the DVSA's decision in February 2020 to close the test centre in Caernarfon and the challenge becomes even more clear. The intention is to close Caernarfon, by the way, and move testing to a site in Wrexham, meaning those from the north-west will need to travel across the north to now be tested, further adding to that issue with capacity.

To close, Dirprwy Lywydd, there are a number of challenges to address here, and I hope that the Governments on both sides of the M4 are serious in meeting them.

Following on from what Luke just said, actually, it's not possible to book a driving test in Wrexham at all, for anybody, even the learner drivers driving a car at the moment.

I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate today. If we are to solve the issue of needing more truck drivers, we have to address the issue of retention, as has already been mentioned. It's not an easy job, and we should all be grateful for those who do it, especially for all they have done throughout the pandemic. It's obvious that if we are to take retention seriously, we must remedy the issue of the conditions they work in and the facilities they have available to them. That's about hearing the voices of those who work in the profession, as has happened in the committee.

It's no secret that the facilities available to drivers in the UK are not what they should be and compare poorly to facilities available in neighbouring countries. It has been raised with me that many lay-bys across key routes, including trunk roads, have been blocked off. These provided essential respite for drivers. HGV parking areas are just not up to scratch. Drivers and hauliers have been campaigning for better facilities for years. I would like to see the Welsh Government work with local government and businesses in Wales to remedy this situation. Drivers need a safe place to rest where they can access decent toilet and shower facilities, as has been mentioned. I therefore welcome the response from the Welsh Government on recommendation 3 to factor an audit of rest facilities into the new logistics and freight plan under the Wales transport strategy.

Will the Member take an intervention?

Yes.

I'm really grateful to you for taking the intervention. I could close my eyes now and be listening to a former regional Member from north Wales, the late Brynle Williams, who, some 14 years ago, was raising this very issue on a constant basis about rest stops for drivers and imploring the Welsh Government to actually do that audit and work with providers to uplift their services. Do you agree with me that it's really depressing to hear that those services haven't improved over the last 14 years and that it is a matter of urgency that they do improve in the coming years?

Yes, I did actually say that, that we've been campaigning for years. I remember Brynle from Cilcain, and I remember him taking part in that dispute as well, before he became an AM.

I was actually going to go on to say, as well, that these rest stops are so important. I was just going to suggest that, perhaps, for the ease of drivers who continuously drive across borders, this should be included in one UK-wide map. If mapping of facilities in England is currently taking place, as I believe is happening by an agency, could Welsh Government ask them to extend it to cover Wales at the same time to save time and money? If we want drivers to be retained in this industry, then we must act quickly and I trust that the Welsh Government will do so. Thank you.

I call on the Deputy Minister for arts and sport, Dawn Bowden.

Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, for that. Can I thank the committee for their report and for tabling this debate, and for their continued engagement on this matter? As a Government, we absolutely remain concerned about the ongoing HGV driver and wider logistics sector labour shortages, which, as Paul Davies highlighted in his opening comments, have been exacerbated by issues and restrictions emanating from the end of the EU exit transition period, as well as the pressures deriving from the pandemic.

The driver shortages are, of course, compounding wider domestic and global supply chain problems, leading to widespread cost inflation and longer delivery times for a broad range of goods. At present, we believe that no particular sector of the Welsh economy faces severe risks from supply problems, but the resilience of the Welsh supply chain will remain fragile as we emerge from the winter period. We are therefore more vulnerable than usual to disruptive events, such as severe weather, the Ukrainian crisis, and industrial action at ports. There's an elevated risk of unforeseen no-notice shortages of critical commodities, with potential for wider impacts to public services and businesses. The reasons behind the shortages have been well publicised, including the retirement of UK-based HGV drivers, significant numbers of EU-based drivers returning to Europe post Brexit, IR35 tax changes affecting drivers, and, of course, as we've heard, the backlog of tests waiting to be taken due to COVID.

The Department for Transport estimated that there are between 70,000 and 90,000 vacancies for HGV drivers, and whilst, as Sam Kurtz pointed out, these shortages have been developing for a number of years, as I've already said, they have been accelerated by the effects of Brexit and the pandemic. But the industry view is that these are not Welsh specific HGV driver issues; the problem, as we know, is a UK-wide one. And whilst the majority of powers relating to these issues are reserved, including driver hours and driver licensing, including training, testing and certification, we continue to press the UK Government to do more to support the industry.

Welsh Government is doing what it can to further mitigate these issues. We continue to work closely with the industry, and we have adapted existing employability and skills programmes to expand the availability of funding for training for lorry drivers. These include the personal learning accounts and the ReAct programme. Our apprenticeship programme has a number of logistics-focused options, one being the level 2 and level 3 in driving goods vehicles. And officials are working closely with Working Wales, Careers Wales's adult guidance service, to ensure that refugees who settle in Wales can access the ReAct programme, and its successor programme, ReAct+. The programme can provide up to £1,500 towards the cost of acquiring a UK driving licence and associated qualifications, such as the driver certificate of professional competence.

Furthermore, as has been pointed out, we have committed to a new logistics and freight plan for Wales, under our Wales transport strategy, and we'll work with the UK Government, the sector, and other partners, to develop this plan and ensure that we incorporate the recommendations from the committee's report into the plan. But I will speak to my colleague the Minister for Economy on whether we can bring forward the issue of the audit of driver facilities, because that does seem to be a particularly common and pressing theme that has been raised by the committee and through the evidence taken.

Industry bodies are of course grateful for the measures that have been developed by the UK Government, but they remain of the view that short-term changes to immigration policy, alongside regulatory changes to fast-track drivers into the industry, would help to ease pressures in the near term. In the longer term, there's an opportunity to reverse the problems that have been building in the industry over many years, and to create a more sustainable and resilient sector that offers fairer pay and working conditions for drivers. The UK Government stopgap measures should not undermine this longer term aspiration.

The recruitment and retention challenges that employers of HGV drivers are facing cannot be separated from the working conditions employers provide. This is not just about pay but about drivers being treated well and with respect by employers who value them. So, there's an important leadership role for the industry here, and we encourage the industry to work constructively with trade unions to improve the offer to drivers, because better working conditions would help attract and retain drivers and make for a healthier and more resilient labour market. This would benefit employers and workers within the industry.

We believe in social partnership, and that is demonstrated by the fact that we have a social partnership Minister, who's sat here today. We want to work with the freight and haulage industry, and we do work with trade unions and have honest conversations with them about how we move beyond short-term fixes to address workforce challenges and instead create longer term and sustainable change in the experience of work. I agree wholeheartedly with Vikki Howells that it is reasonable to expect the UK Government to look at how it can increase the number of female drivers in the sector. Women make up only 2 per cent of drivers at present, and that is clearly an area where targeted recruitment could help improve that statistic.

It's clear that the industry sees improved facilities for drivers as crucial to growing recruitment, and we've talked about that already. So, the Welsh Government was disappointed to learn that the £32.5 million of new funding to improve lorry parking facilities will only be made available for England. Although these matters are reserved, we have established cross-policy groups to review the latest issues, including training and roadside conditions. We're actively working on a number of areas to address and support the sector, and this includes working on a range of mitigations and interventions with various UK Government departments, the DVSA and logistics representative bodies.

We've been working with Careers Wales to promote a range of opportunities that are available across the logistics industry in Wales and how to access HGV driving as a career. We have regular contact with the Welsh branches of the Road Haulage Association and Logistics UK to gather industry intelligence on driver shortages and feed this back to UK Government. We have extended the relaxation of curfew times for deliveries to help provide more operational flexibility.

Dirprwy Lywydd, despite the legitimate concerns about HGV shortages, there are some signs that the situation is improving. The RHA estimates that the shortfall of drivers has reduced by around 15,000 over the last six months from a previous estimate of around 100,000 vacancies. However, many industry figures believe that, despite more candidates being attracted to the sector by higher pay and the measures implemented by Government across the UK, it will still take many months if not years to fully resolve the situation. So, we will continue to work with the committee and with the UK Government to ensure that the sector is given the support that it needs to continue delivering for the whole of the UK. Diolch yn fawr.

I call on Paul Davies to reply to the debate.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank Members for contributing to this debate this afternoon? We've heard some very insightful contributions from Members on some of the issues facing the sector and the impact that driver shortages are having more widely on the economy. I'm grateful to all Members, whether they are committee members or not, for engaging on this issue.

Before I respond to Members' individual contributions, I just want to reiterate how important HGV drivers are to our economy and say that they continue to play an enormous role in transporting goods across the country and, indeed, further afield. That's why it is crucial that the recruitment of HGV drivers is a priority for Governments across the UK and that there's some long-term investment in the UK domestic workforce.

I'm grateful for the Member for Cynon Valley's contribution, and she highlighted how important HGV drivers are in our everyday lives. It is these drivers who make sure that we are able to receive goods and products that make sure that we are able to live our everyday lives. She also made a very important point about the importance of training, and she's right to ask how the Welsh Government is drawing attention to courses available for HGV drivers. This is essential to drivers' continuous professional development.

I'm also grateful to my colleague the Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. In his contribution, he focused on the experience of HGV drivers, and he's right to highlight the hit-and-miss rest stop facilities available to HGV drivers up and down the country. He's also right to say that it's now crucial that recommendation 3 is accepted as soon as possible, because we need to see that inventory of services so that an improvement can be seen in rest stop facilities up and down Wales.

I'm also grateful to the Member for South Wales West. He rightly raised the awful experiences we heard from HGV drivers and the fact that the backlog in tests made matters worse regarding the shortages we have been seeing. He also highlighted the importance of both Governments working together. It is important that the Welsh Government and the UK Government work together in order to try and resolve some of these issues.

I'm also grateful to the Member for North Wales for her contribution on how important these rest stop facilities are in helping to improve HGV drivers' experience.

I'm also grateful to the leader of the opposition for reminding us of our late colleague Brynle Williams, who, when he was in this place, had been campaigning tirelessly to improve the experience of HGV drivers. 

Now, Members' contributions have rightly focused on HGV drivers' experiences, and I think it's fair to say that there is a lot that needs to be done to make the experience much more secure and comfortable for HGV drivers. When drivers refer to the legislation around drivers' hours as a 'beasting', then we know that something has gone seriously wrong. The drivers that gave evidence to the committee described how their employers pushed them to work 60 hours a week, and that is, of course, physically draining and can lead to high levels of stress and anxiety. So, I'm particularly pleased that the Welsh Government has accepted our recommendation to work with the UK Government on any review of legislation that affects the working conditions of HGV drivers. Of course, as this legislation is not devolved, the Welsh Government is limited in terms of what it can do. However, it's important that the sector and drivers in Wales are engaged and listened to so that any review can ensure their voices are heard.

I'm also pleased that the Welsh Government has agreed to carry out an audit of rest facilities for drivers in Wales and create that national inventory, similar to that available for England. I'm grateful to the Deputy Minister, in her comments this afternoon, and I hope very much that she will be able to bring that inventory forward as soon as possible. The committee also received some really eye-opening accounts of the rest facilities that HGV drivers continue to experience. As the Member for Cynon Valley said, we heard about broken showers, broken tiles and dirty wash facilities, and even the cost of food and drink at service stations was cited as an issue, with one driver telling us he was charged £1.80 for a cup of hot water. I think all Members in the Chamber will agree with me when I say this: we must do better.

That leads me to the Deputy Minister's contribution, and I'd like to thank her for her constructive response to this afternoon's debate. I appreciate that her colleague the Minister for Economy can't simply click his fingers and resolve the issues facing the sector, and in many areas it's not within the Welsh Government's remit to take action. Nevertheless, where the Welsh Government has accepted all of the committee's recommendations and where it is able to, it has pledged to take action, and I'm very grateful to the Government in doing so. It's absolutely crucial now that those recommendations are implemented in full and that action is taken to support the sector and address some of its long-standing challenges. We want drivers to feel safe and valued in their roles.

Therefore, in closing, Dirprwy Lywydd, can I thank Members for their contributions today and say that the committee looks forward to being updated on the progress on the implementation of the recommendations in our report in due course? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

The proposal is to note the committee's report. Does any Member object? I haven't heard any objection, therefore the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.