Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Paragraph: 80
There is an unacceptable level of risk that inland facilities will not be ready in...
Conclusion
There is an unacceptable level of risk that inland facilities will not be ready in either North or South-west Wales for the full introduction of border checks and processes in July 2021. It has been clear since the beginning of the UK-EU trade talks, that regardless of a deal being reached or not, there would be new processes and requirements at the border, and it has also long been apparent that Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke lack the capacity to accommodate such checks on-site. If there is to be any chance of a North Wales and South-west Wales facility being operational before July 2021, then decisions on site locations must be confirmed before the end of December. As a precaution, the UK Government must publish its contingency plans for how checks will be conducted on goods arriving at Holyhead and Fishguard/Pembroke in the event that the inland facilities are not operational for July. The UK Government should also be clear whether its contingency plans include checks at port and detail the measures it would take to minimise the disruption such a step would entail.
Paragraph Reference:
80
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