3. Statement by the Minister for Economy: Border Controls

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:08 pm on 3 May 2022.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Carolyn Thomas Carolyn Thomas Labour 3:08, 3 May 2022

Minister, I too am concerned about the cost of the delay for Ynys Môn council, who may have built up employment costs and income revenue in their business plans going forward for the year, and for the construction company who, under procurement rules, will have factored in much needed local employment and apprenticeships to build the site.

If one of the reasons for delay is that the UK Government is looking at a streamlined digital border, why have they not returned the e-mails from FibreSpeed, which I and other politicians have been copied into, including the local MP? They have been informing UK Government officials that at Holyhead there is an existing Welsh Government-owned European-funded high-fibre network connection that could be utilised by any telecoms carrier or internet service provider to provide high broadband bandwidth. It will avoid any expensive installation and will allow immediate access to any data, mobile and telecom requirements. I've also raised this several times. Please, could your officials follow this up with UK Government officials because we seem to be getting nowhere with it?

And, Minister, what you've informed us today is that Jacob Rees-Mogg has made the decision to keep frictionless imports, helping foreign businesses while Welsh and British farmers and businesses that need to export are now faced with continued bureaucracy of paperwork and cost. And do you agree that this is not a level playing field, and should have been handled much better by the UK Government? And what compensation will they receive? Thank you.