To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle the shortage of heavy goods vehicle drivers who provide (a) refuse collection and (b) other local services.

The Government has taken 32 specific measures to deal with the shortage of HGV drivers across all sectors including refuse collection and other local services. These measures include funding for HGV driving apprenticeships such as the Category C Urban Driver standard, Skills Bootcamps to train 11,000 more drivers, and support for jobseekers.

In addition, we have taken steps to increase DVSA’s capacity for HGV driving tests to 3,200 per week, an increase of over 100% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Test capacity now exceeds demand. Despite the increase in vocational driving licence applications and licence renewals there are no delays in processing, and all vocational provisional licences and licence renewals are being processed within five working days, unless further medical checks are required.