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.

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.