The Port of Holyhead

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:14 pm on 1 December 2020.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 2:14, 1 December 2020

Brexit transition ends a month today, and the sheer shambles of the lack of preparedness has been laid bare, I think, by the apparent decision by UK Government to take over the Roadking truck stop in Holyhead to be used as a freight checkpoint from July next year. I'm told that 28 staff have been told they'll lose their jobs, and we need assurances that they'll be re-employed at the new border post. Whilst this might have helped resolve one piece of the Brexit jigsaw, it's created new problems, because the truck stop is a vital part of the port's infrastructure, stopping trucks from having to park all around town. What we needed was a new border development in the Holyhead area, but at this eleventh hour, we're just seeing blind panic, I think, from a UK Government that's paid scant attention to the needs of Holyhead. Part of Holyhead's border infrastructure is still earmarked for Warrington, as far as we know.

Can I ask what the Welsh Government knew about the Roadking plans? Take us back to why it was decided that HMRC would take the lead on providing all necessary border posts and port infrastructure for Holyhead. Because as I understand, Welsh Government could have had a role to play here. What assurances were you given by UK Government? Couple all this with the nervousness around the as-yet-untested new electronic checks on exported goods being introduced on 1 January, and we can see the risk Holyhead faces now. It's the best Irish sea crossing, and I get very nervous with all the talk about increasing direct freight between Ireland and continental Europe to avoid land bridge problems. So, what steps can Welsh Government take now to help overcome these problems that remain, and to stop Holyhead port and port jobs from being undermined?