Written question WQ94742

We have provided direct funding in South Wales to support port infrastructure development plans. We continue to work closely with those ports on how best to support the development of their port infrastructure for the manufacture and assembly of Floating Offshore Wind (including securing part of the £160m funding available from UK Government) and to take full advantage of the growth of Fixed Offshore Wind.

We are also supporting Welsh Ports through the establishment of two freeports in Wales; the Celtic Freeport covering Milford Haven and Port Talbot, and Anglesey Freeport in North Wales. Both freeports will benefit from devolved tax reliefs from the Welsh Government, aim to attract billions of investment, and have the potential to create a substantial number of new jobs by 2034. Freeports in Wales are designed to enhance Welsh Government policies for stronger, fairer, greener local economies.

We have introduced the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill, which will establish a new process for consenting major infrastructure projects in Wales. The Bill will streamline and unify the decision-making process, helping to support port investment and development to ensure they are ready to support these offshore wind projects.