Topics
Policy
Parliamentary Questions
Labour shortages and workforce planning
Introduction
This page is regularly updated with questions asked at parliament and the answers received on matters that you care about.
We have questions and answers on the following topics:
- Department of Work and Pensions
- Deparment of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy
- Department of Transport
- Cabinet Office
For more information about our campaign work, or to share any feedback, please email us.
Question for Cabinet Office
Supply Chain Advisory Group
Question by Stephen Crabb
Conservative
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to publish the findings and recommendations from the Supply Chain Taskforce which concluded its report in January 2022.
Answer by Michael Ellis
Conservative
In October 2021, the Prime Minister appointed Sir Dave Lewis as his Supply Chains Adviser. Sir Dave Lewis worked with the Cabinet Office Supply Chains Unit, across HM Government and with industry, meeting over 100 businesses from a range of sectors, to help resolve a number of acute and short term issues.
Questions for the Department of Work and Pensions
Questions for the Department of Work and Pensions on recruitment and vacancies
What assessment has been made from the REC & KPMG report?
What steps are being take to help supply workforce for sectors experiencing labour shortages?
What recent discussions have happed with the recruitment sector on providing sufficient workforce?
Potential merits of proposals from the REC for a cross-departmental forum in collaboration with business and industry to consider long-term workforce planning.
Question by Lord Jones of Cheltenham - for Department for Work and Pension
Liberal Democrat
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG, Report on Jobs, published on 8 July; in particular, the finding that the availability of workers to fill vacancies fell at the quickest rates on record; and what steps they intend to take as a result.
Answer by Baroness Stedman-Scott
Conservative
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) monitors a wide range of statistics and surveys on the labour market.We want everyone to be able to find a job, progress in work and thrive in the labour market, whoever they are and wherever they live.
Question by Stephen Crabb - for Department of Work and Pensions
Conservative
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help supply workforce for sectors experiencing labour shortages, including (a) HGV driving, (b) hospitality, (c) tourism, (d) construction and (d) agriculture, as reported by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.
Answer by Mims Davies
Conservative
The Department is continuing to work with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for Transport, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Devolved Authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as other Government Departments to fill vacancies in haulage, hospitality, construction, agriculture, tourism and other sectors experiencing labour shortages.
Question by Stephen Crabb - for Department of Work and Pensions
Conservative
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with the recruitment sector on (a) providing sufficient workforce for businesses and (b) tackling the increasing vacancy level.
Answer by Mims Davies
Conservative
The Department is continuing to work with a number of other Government Departments, Devolved Authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as sector and trade bodies to fill vacancies in sectors experiencing labour shortages, offering training for those who need it, and securing jobs directly for those ready to move into roles.
Question by Stephen Crabb
Conservative
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of proposals from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation for a cross-departmental forum in collaboration with business and industry to consider long-term workforce planning.
Answer by Mims Davies
Conservative
Government departments already work closely together, and with employers, on our approach to skills and the labour market.
DWP regularly meets with departments responsible for key sectors to identify and promote opportunities within high demand and growing sectors. By identifying barriers and skills needs, DWP can ensure that provision is available to support people to move into and progress in jobs in local growing sectors.
Questions for Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
In this section we have questions for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on migrant worker visas and more.
Question by Alex Cunningham - for Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategies
Labour
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, published 14 September 2021, that labour shortages are the main concern of 88 per cent of recruiters for the remainder of 2021.
Answer by Paul Scully
Conservative
The Government is working closely with industry to address sector challenges, which are being faced by countries around the world.
We have expanded the Seasonal Workers Pilot to 30,000 visas for workers to come to the UK for up to six months; and have introduced measures to help tackle the HGV driver shortage.
Question by Alex Cunningham - for Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Labour
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the introduction of temporary visas for low skilled workers to supply sectors reporting labour shortages.
Answer by Paul Scully
Conservative
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has regular discussions with my Rt. Hon. Friend the Home Secretary on a range of issues, including making sure businesses have appropriate access to talent from across the world so that we can build back better from the pandemic and support the national economic recovery.
Questions for the Department of Transport
Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Qualifications
Question by Alex Cunningham - for Department of Transport
Labour
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, published 14 September 2021, that labour shortages are the main concern of 88 per cent of recruiters for the remainder of 2021.
Answer by Andrew Stephenson
Conservative
The Government is working closely with industry to address sector challenges, which are being faced by countries around the world.We have expanded the Seasonal Workers Pilot to 30,000 visas for workers to come to the UK for up to six months; and have introduced measures to help tackle the HGV driver shortage.
Question for Home Office
Migrant Workers: Large Goods Vehicle Drivers
Question by Stephen Timms
Labour
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to (a) increase flexibility in the apprenticeship system and (b) extend access to workers on temporary contracts.
Answer by Kevin Foster
Conservative
Full details of the arrangements for issuing temporary visas to HGV drivers were published on 11 October. Guidance can be found on the Gov.uk website at:
Question for Department for Education
Apprentices
Question by Stephen Timms
Labour
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to (a) increase flexibility in the apprenticeship system and (b) extend access to workers on temporary contracts.
Answer by Alex Burghart
Conservative
We are making apprenticeships more flexible so that they better meet the needs of employers in all sectors. We are encouraging greater use of innovative apprenticeship training models, such as the front-loading of off-the-job training, so apprentices can be productive from day one in the workplace.
View the full answer from the Department of Education on apprentices.
Labour and skills shortages report
We collected data from across the industry to understand the scale and complexity of the labour and skills shortage, here are our findings.
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