London, UK: Temporary visas are to be issued to 300 overseas fuel tanker drivers “immediately”, the government has announced.
Under the bespoke scheme, those foreign drivers will be able to work in the UK from now until the end of March.
Of the orginal promised 5,000 visas, the remaining 4,700 will be extended by two months, lasting from late October to the end of February. However, on 5 October Prime Minister Boris Johnson has admitted that so far only 127 applications for the emergency visas have been made,
Ministers have also extended the length of temporary visas being issued to 5,500 foreign poultry workers, amid fears of a shortage of Christmas turkeys on supermarket shelves.
Previously, the government said these temporary visas would last until Christmas Eve, but the visas have been extended by a week, and will now be valid until 31 December.
The temporary visa scheme for 5,000 foreign lorry drivers was originally announced a week ago when the ongoing driver shortage first began disrupting fuel deliveries to petrol stations around the UK. Since then the government has shortened then extended the duration of the visa.
