6. What discussions has the Counsel General held regarding facilitating the efficient movement of goods into Wales post-Brexit? OAQ53400

I've raised the potential impacts of delays to movement of goods in discussions with UK Ministers. This is obviously an important area in which discussions are also happening internally and with stakeholders here in Wales. 

I thank the Minister for that response. We recognise that the Welsh Government has rightly been focused on mitigating potential impacts at Welsh ports, but isn't it true that Wales, like the rest of the UK, is actually critically dependent on the Calais-Dover route for medicines, food and other supplies? Now, I'm hesitating before I'm asking this question. What discussions has the Minister had with the UK counterpart Chris Grayling? You can understand why I'm hesitating to do this, after the cancellation of the Seaborne contract for £14 million the other day, despite reassurances a month previously that it was all perfectly hunky-dory. But it is essential that we have those, because medicines, food supplies, all those necessities, are critical to Wales, as to the rest of the UK. It's not only the Welsh ports. Is he reassured by the UK Government's preparations?

Clearly, as he indicates in his question, whilst our principal focus is in relation to ports here in Wales, food and medicines and other materials and goods that come to Wales will—you know, that port is perhaps even more important in terms of the volume of traffic and volume of freight that comes through there. It is certainly going to be the case that, particularly in a 'no deal' scenario, there will be severe disruption in Dover and the Dover-Calais route. That, I think, is absolutely clear. Obviously, he mentions the cancellation of the Seaborne contract, and that's incredibly worrying in the context of reassurances. We know that steps are being taken. They're obviously being led by the UK Government. We're in a process of seeking assurance in relation to steps that are being taken, because, clearly, whilst not devolved, and whilst not in Wales, there is a very, very clear interest for the Welsh Government on behalf of the people of Wales in seeking that reassurance.

Can I ask the Minister what discussions he's had with the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales with regard to the movement of goods and Brexit?

I haven't myself had those conversations, but I will make sure that I write to the Member with a follow-up in relation to that question specifically.FootnoteLink

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