The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has made clear the need to turbocharge post-Brexit economic growth by urging the Welsh Government to support Holyhead as the lead candidate to be a Freeport in Wales. The call came in questions posed to the Counsel General.  

Making clear the benefits, Janet said:  

“From the End of Transition Action Plan 2020, it is evident that Welsh local authorities have been working with the Welsh Government to consider the needs of individual ports. I’m now asking Ministers to further cooperate with the region's stakeholders to support Holyhead’s proposal to become the lead candidate to be a Freeport in Wales. 

“The clear and lasting benefits of this bid cannot be understated. In fact, as the only bid in Wales to include a University, this Freeport has the potential to attract a plethora of major new employers, bringing permanent employment and boost the supply chain across the whole region. 

“This opportunity should be seized to run in tandem with the welcome news that the UK Government is accelerating the North Wales Growth Deal. The Chancellor has announced that the Deal will receive an extra £4.4 million per year from 2021/22 for the remaining nine years - brilliant news that underlines how cooperation with Westminster makes Wales stronger.

“Taken together, it is clear that there is real momentum in support across  North Wales for the positive role that such a freeport can play in our post-Covid economic recovery."

ENDS 

Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS