Written question WQ88392

The five-point plan’s aim is to guide thinking and articulate the priority issues facing the logistics surrounding Welsh ports. Work continues with UK Government on a range of port-related issues including floating offshore wind, the Freeports Programme in Wales and border control posts to ensure Welsh ferry ports are no worse off post Brexit.

The Border controls work has fed into the above by looking at the longer-term implications of leaving the EU and the end of the UK’s membership of the Single Market and Customs Union. On 5 April 2023 the UK Government published a draft Border Target Operating Model for consultation. That period has now closed, and Ministers are considering the responses. UK Government plans to publish a Final Border Target Operating Model shortly. Although aspects of the border regime are devolved, Welsh Government has worked with other UK governments to develop coherent and consistent rules which respect our high standards of biosecurity, whilst maintaining the viability of businesses including the ports. We want to ensure the regime – including charging - is fit for purpose for smaller ports as well as larger ports. Work has begun to prepare for a BCP at Holyhead.

The Freeport Programme in Wales is designed to harness Wales’s economic potential by regenerating ports and re-imagining their role in the economy - fostering economic growth at the same time as promoting sustainability and fair work. On 23 March 2023 it was announced that the Celtic Freeport and the Porthladd Rhydd Ynys Mon / Anglesey Freeport will proceed to the next stage of the Welsh Freeports Programme process - the development of an outline business case. These prospective Freeports are focused on boosting the distinct strengths that both sites boast, exploiting opportunities from offshore wind and marine energy to advanced manufacturing and innovation. We are in the early stages of the Programme, but we are building in monitoring and evaluation to ensure we can assess the effectiveness and impacts of Welsh Freeports.

Further assessment of the five-point plan will be fed into the future Maritime Strategy, which is a part of Llwybr Newydd, the Wales Transport Strategy.