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Transport Minister Shapps: "The good news is that there is enough fuel"
Photo: SIMON DAWSON / REUTERS
The British Transport Minister Grant Shapps has blamed a logistics association for panic buying at gas stations.
It is an "artificially created situation," Shapps told Sky News.
A transport association fed the media with information about a non-public meeting.
"That has caused quite a bit of concern, as you can see, as people react naturally to these things," Shapps said.
The Minister of Transport did not name the association he was criticizing, but government circles pointed to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), the largest logistics association, which has been calling for quick measures against a blatant truck driver shortage for weeks.
The RHA estimates that the UK is missing about 100,000 drivers.
Shapps tried to calm the population down.
“The good news is there's plenty of fuel.
The bad news is that we will continue to see queues (at gas stations) if everyone keeps refueling even though they don't have to. ”He urged drivers to be moderate and sensible.
Because migrant workers from Eastern Europe are no longer welcome in Great Britain after Brexit, the country is lacking truck drivers and goods.
Various industries have recently had to struggle with delivery and supply bottlenecks.
(Read more about the background here.)
Shortage of drivers also endangers Christmas business
The British government has long been concerned with the shortage of drivers, known as the "Lorry Crisis".
Retail associations now even see the Christmas business at risk.
Finally, some petrol stations could no longer be supplied with fuel.
According to media reports, the government was also considering using soldiers to deliver fuel.
In addition, the government announced that it would now issue up to 5,000 work visas for foreign truck drivers.
Since Brexit, strict immigration rules have been restricting the influx of skilled workers.
hpp / dpa
