The issues related to the motion far outstretch trade and are faced week in, week out by our road haulage sector and industry. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the legacy of Brexit has caused disruption to the lives of people who live on this island, and the haulage sector is no different. It is inescapable that the decision to leave has both created and worsened issues for the industry. It has been clear for some time that the number of people in the haulage workforce is miles from where it should be. The Road Haulage Association previously suggested that the workforce needed thousands of people to address those labour shortages. If the haulier workforce was stretched before, the implications of changes to immigration requirements post Brexit have only added to the issues that are being faced today. The ending of freedom of movement has meant that those who might have come here and become a key contributor to the industry no longer have that choice.

In addition to labour shortages and as a consequence of the ending of freedom of movement, haulage companies have experienced a skills gap. There are people who are willing to work in the industry, but they are not trained or equipped with the skills that are needed. Good work has been done with labour market partnerships and others to ensure that people who are keen to work in the sector are trained so that there is a supply of skilled people to meet the industry's demand. It is, therefore, imperative that initiatives such as employment academies, run through the councils, and other skill-up programmes are available to give people the licences, tests and other skills needed to begin a career in transport and alleviate the shortages faced by the sector as a result of Brexit. That is an area that has seen investment and must continue to do so.

To conclude, our constituents and every other sector across the island rely on the haulage industry, and it is important that the British Government engage with the EU to straighten out the issues that the transport sector faces.