JUST 27 people have applied to the Tory government’s visa scheme for HGV drivers touted as a solution to the staffing shortages hitting industries across the UK, according to reports.

The number is just nine per cent of the 300 spaces which the Tories initially opened. They reportedly only did so after being assured by the industry that the staff to fill the roles were ready to go.

The lack of response is said to have "infuriated" Downing Street.

However, speaking on BBC Breakfast, the Prime Minister disputed the 27 figure, claiming instead that it was 127.

Even so, the figure is fewer than half of the small number of visas currently available, and suggests filling the further 4700 to be released will be no easy feat.

The news throws into doubt the UK Government’s plans to recruit 5000 HGV drivers from abroad in the run-up to Christmas.

The Prime Minister insisted that the shortages were global, claiming that China is experiencing a similar issue, and that the low visa uptake reflected this.

Asked if he was worried about supply chain issues brought on by a shortage of HGV drivers, Johnson said: “I think that there are going to be difficulties that we have to address as the world economy wakes up and as the UK economy wakes up.”

He said his government wanted to see a change in the way things are done, and put the blame onto past management of the industry for its current problems.

Johnson went on: “If you look back over the last two decades and you look at a profession like road hauling, they haven’t been investing enough in people, they haven’t been investing enough in facilities.

“Now is the time to make the change.”

Shortages in staffing of key industries including hospitality, haulage, and health and social care have become acute since the Tories pushed through their hard Brexit deal.