Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future viability of England’s regional ports.

The UK, and England’s port industry, is a thriving and competitive private sector. It continues to make significant ongoing investment across the country in infrastructure necessary for a successful future, estimated at £1bn in 2021 and £600m in 2020 by the British Ports Association. It has shown itself to be adaptable and resilient over recent years and, as an island nation, all ports will very much continue to be a vital enabler of the national economy as 95% of freight by weight arrives by sea. As such we expect ports to be a key element of the UK’s global trade ambitions now we have left the European Union, and we are taking steps to enhance their attractiveness through Freeports. A confidence in our ports far into the future is mapped out in the maritime 2050 Strategy.