Alan Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2016-07-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Oral Answer of 30 June 2016 to Question 905567, HC Deb, column 463, what discussions he has had with the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Business, Innovation and Skills on the provision of grants for HGV training; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State has met with the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and for Business, Innovation and Skills regarding HGV driver training and officials at the Departments for Transport, Work and Pensions and Business Innovation and Skills continue to work together to help the freight industry address the driver shortage.

The supply of new drivers has been increasing with about 10,000 more HGV driving test passes in 2015/16 compared to two years before.

The industry has recently launched its Trailblazer Apprenticeship which will be funded through the apprenticeship levy. The Government is working to provide support for groups of people who need it most – for example jobseekers, people facing redundancy and specialist career transitions such as those leaving Military service.