Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of introducing customs checks at Holyhead Port on congestion on the A55.
Answered by Alun Cairns
The port at Holyhead is vital to the economy of north Wales, and acts as an important link between the Republic of Ireland and the UK. A number of UK Government ministers, including the Minister for Security and I, have visited Holyhead to discuss the impact of EU Exit on the port. The UK Government Minister for Wales has also met with Irish Ferries.
The Government is committed to ensuring that withdrawal from the EU is a successful and smooth process for all parts of the UK, and we are conscious that a significant proportion of the traffic at some ports is not currently subject to customs controls. We want to ensure that traffic continues to flow freely at all UK ports and airports, including Holyhead, and we will seek to ensure that customs arrangements and mechanisms are as frictionless as possible, and that trade fluidity is maintained. Officials in the Wales Office and colleagues across Government are working with port operators and other stakeholders in Wales to support the smooth and orderly implementation of these new arrangements.
Responsibility for roads in Wales is devolved to the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the potential implications of the UK leaving the Customs Union on changes to levels of traffic and usage at the port in Holyhead requiring additional infrastructure in and around that port.
Answered by Alun Cairns
There has been, and will continue to be, constructive engagement between the UK Government and the Welsh Government on the issue of EU Exit. On 30 October, the Prime Minister and I met with the First Minister, and last month the First Secretary of State and I also met with him.
The Government is committed to ensuring that withdrawal from the EU is a successful and smooth process for all parts of the UK, and we are conscious that a significant proportion of the traffic at some ports is not currently subject to customs controls. We want to ensure that traffic continues to flow freely at all UK ports and airports, including Holyhead, and we will seek to ensure that customs arrangements and mechanisms are as frictionless as possible, and that trade fluidity is maintained. Officials in the Wales Office and colleagues across Government are working with port operators and other stakeholders in Wales to support the smooth and orderly implementation of these new arrangements.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what representations he has made to the Department for Exiting the European Union on continuation of interreg funding for Wales in partnership with Ireland.
Answered by Alun Cairns
The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and I have regular discussions on a range of issues, as do officials from our respective departments.
There may be specific European programmes in which we might want to participate and if so, it will be reasonable that we make a contribution.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much and what proportion of his Department's expenditure has been identified as relating to its work on the UK leaving the EU in 2017-18.
Answered by Guto Bebb
The Department for Exiting the European Union has responsibility for overseeing preparations for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and conducting these withdrawal negotiations in support of the Prime Minister. In doing this it is working very closely with other Government departments, including the Wales Office.
The Wales Office does not identify expenditure on EU exit separately from overall expenditure. Work relating to exiting the EU forms part of the policy portfolio of most staff.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many staff in his Department have responsibilities relating to the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Alun Cairns
The Department for Exiting the European Union has responsibility for overseeing preparations for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and conducting these withdrawal negotiations in support of the Prime Minister. In doing this it is working very closely with other Government departments, including the Wales Office.
The Wales Office has refocused its priorities following the United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union and work relating to exiting the EU now forms part of the policy portfolio of most staff.