Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Paragraph: 79
We are deeply concerned that, so close to the end of the transition period, and...
Conclusion
We are deeply concerned that, so close to the end of the transition period, and with not much time left until the staggered controls take effect in July 2021, the decisions on the location of the inland facility for Holyhead Port and the equivalent facilities in South-west Wales has yet to be taken. Even with expedited planning permission, this leaves little time to build, and properly equip, sites which will need to be ready for potentially thousands of checks and processes per day. There is a significant risk that neither North nor South-west Wales will have appropriate inland facilities ready for July 2021, raising important questions about the level of contingency planning that is in place for such an eventuality.
Paragraph Reference:
79
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
From July 2021, infrastructure will be needed to meet the further requirements of full border controls on EU goods as set out in the Border Operating Model. In July 2020, the Government committed to spending £705 million on new border infrastructure to support ports in building extra capacity to meet the new control requirements where there is space to do so. This funding was provided for improved IT systems as well as for infrastructure at ports (through the £200 million Port Infrastructure Fund—PIF) and at Inland Border Facilities (£270 million) to support ports which do not have the space to build new infrastructure on site. • Holyhead, Pembroke and Fishguard have all been allocated funding from the PIF to deliver on-site infrastructure at the port. The UK Government is also working with the Welsh Government to deliver Inland Border Facilities in North and South Wales to accommodate necessary checks which cannot be accommodated on-site due to space constraints. • Timescales for inland facilities are challenging but the UK Government is working closely with the Welsh Government to speed up delivery, including