Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 80
There is an unacceptable level of risk that inland facilities will not be ready in...
Recommendation
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.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government details significant funding for border infrastructure and confirms Holyhead, Pembroke, and Fishguard have received funds for on-site facilities, working with the Welsh Government on inland facilities despite challenging timescales, but does not explicitly commit to publishing contingency plans.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
80
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted in Part
• The UK Government has published the Border Operating Model which details the port and inland facilities which will be required under the model. This includes sites which will be required to be in place to support both Holyhead and specific ports in South West Wales. Inland sites in Birmingham and Warrington will be available for hauliers using Welsh ports until such time as sites in North and South West Wales are complete.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗