Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:34 pm on 8 February 2023.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I move the motion tabled in the name of my colleague, Darren Millar. It gives me great pleasure to lead a debate on the benefits of free ports and to again highlight the excellent bids that have been submitted from all parts of Wales. We will be voting against the two amendments tabled, and I am disappointed that they have been tabled in the first place, as they seek to delete our original motion. I was hoping to get cross-party support on this matter.
Now, Members will know that applications have closed for bidders interested in establishing a free port in Wales, and a decision is due shortly on the winning site. Indeed, I hope that more than one bid is successful and that Wales will enjoy multiple free ports across the country. Now, the UK Government's free-port programme is a key component of its levelling-up agenda and it's part of the Government's efforts to help to build back better and drive economic growth, post pandemic. I give way to the Member for Ogmore.