Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:48 pm on 8 February 2023.
Thank you so much to my colleague, Darren Millar, for bringing this important debate forward. Having spoken on the subject on quite a few occasions, I sincerely don't hold the same view as you, Luke Fletcher. In fact, I think free ports present a fantastic opportunity for Wales, energising the economy, creating high-quality jobs, and will drive investment forward, something I would have thought that everyone in this Chamber would have wanted to see in Wales, going forward.
Now, whatever your view is on Brexit, there's no denying that this new trade opportunity simply wouldn't have been an option if we were still part of the European Union. Now, free ports have a reputation of ultimately regenerating communities, providing economic growth and creating much-needed high-skilled jobs for many people—