Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to reduce delays in notification of the results of bids for Green Freeports in Scotland; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delays in the establishment of Green Freeports on employment, innovation and development opportunities in Scotland.

The UK and Scottish governments have jointly announced the two winners of the Green Freeports competition: The Forth Green Freeport, and Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.

With five high-quality applications received, both the UK Government and Scottish Government have been working jointly to consider the bids in full detail.

The tax reliefs offered to Green Freeports will be available for years to come and have a lasting impact on the Scottish economy.