The UK Internal Market Bill

Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition (in respect of his European Transition responsibilities) – in the Senedd at 2:59 pm on 7 October 2020.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 2:59, 7 October 2020

(Translated)

Thank you very much. There's very real concern that the Bill could lead to trade being lost from Holyhead to ports in England and Scotland that go straight to Northern Ireland, and, with a third of the Holyhead-Dublin traffic going to or from Northern Ireland, that risk is very clear, and that's on top of the risk of more crossings going directly from the Republic of Ireland to continental Europe. I'm also concerned about the impact of the checks that will be required on lorries. I’ve already warned that there’s no space in the port itself. The UK Government has paid hardly any attention to Holyhead as compared to Dover, for example, and now with just weeks to go they are digging around for a location, suggesting totally inappropriate places such as the Sioe Môn ground, which would mean that there would be heavy traffic in that area 24 hours a day. Now, I know that the Welsh Government is in negotiations with the county council on this, but can you give us an assurance that you, like me and the council and my fellow Plaid Cymru Members in Westminster, are urging the UK Government in the strongest terms possible to ensure that everything possible is done to ensure the flow of trade through Holyhead and to secure the future of a port that is so important for Ynys Môn and the whole of Wales?