3. Statement by the Minister for Economy: The Free-port Programme in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:31 pm on 28 March 2023.

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Photo of Samuel Kurtz Samuel Kurtz Conservative 3:31, 28 March 2023

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. And, Minister, I was delighted to see on Thursday a very happy and smiling First Minister, and a very happy and smiling Prime Minister up in Holyhead, and yourself smiling alongside the Secretary of State for Wales at Port Talbot yesterday, in celebration of the Celtic free-port bid. And what has been really transformational about this—and I say that—is the cross-party work that's gone on in support of both the bids in north Wales, and the Celtic free port in south-west Wales as well. And although he's not allowed to speak, as he's in the Deputy Presiding Officer's chair, I have to pay testament to Dai Rees for his advocacy in that part of the world, including Stephen Kinnock, Simon Hart, Stephen Crabb, Tom Giffard, Paul Davies as well, who's not here. 

But one of the things in talking about the free-port bid is, now, your assessment of the next part of the process. Given the devolved responsibilities of the Welsh Government, how much of a relationship are you going to have with the two bids now going forward, so that, in delivery of the benefits that these bids have, you're involved with those discussions as to what you need to deliver on within Welsh Government devolved responsibility? Diolch.