Meetings

NDM8200 Welsh Conservatives Debate - Freeports

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Meeting: 08/02/2023 - Plenary (Item 6)

Welsh Conservatives Debate - Freeports

NDM8200 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the opportunities for freeports to energise the Welsh economy, create high quality jobs, promote regeneration and investment.

2. Notes that three bids from Wales have been submitted for consideration by the UK and Welsh Governments.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to deliver two freeports in Wales, recognising the truly exceptional proposals submitted and the transformational benefits they can deliver for the Welsh economy.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Recognises that ports, harbours, seaside resorts and other coastal communities are being left behind and require investment to secure their long term viability.

2. Further recognises that coastal communities face multiple long-term structural problems, including, but not limited to, poverty and environmental changes.

3. Notes the UK Government's freeports policy and the negotiated changes to UK Government’s original offer.

4. Further notes that three bids from Wales have been submitted for consideration by the UK and Welsh Governments and that local authorities and other partners have put together bids that they believe reflect their communities’ needs.

5. Believes that the issues facing our coastal communities need a broader response including improvement in infrastructure and measures to tackle poverty.

6. Calls on both the UK and Welsh Governments to significantly increase funding for infrastructure and poverty reduction in our coastal communities to address the problems they face.

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected.

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Notes that the three bids which were submitted are now being assessed by both the Welsh and UK governments, against the criteria published in the Freeport Programme in Wales Prospectus and the outcome of this process will be jointly decided between Welsh and UK Government Ministers as part of an open and transparent process.

Freeport Programme in Wales: bidding prospectus

Minutes:

The item started at 16.34

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8200 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the opportunities for freeports to energise the Welsh economy, create high quality jobs, promote regeneration and investment.

2. Notes that three bids from Wales have been submitted for consideration by the UK and Welsh Governments.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to deliver two freeports in Wales, recognising the truly exceptional proposals submitted and the transformational benefits they can deliver for the Welsh economy.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

14

0

37

51

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Recognises that ports, harbours, seaside resorts and other coastal communities are being left behind and require investment to secure their long term viability.

2. Further recognises that coastal communities face multiple long-term structural problems, including, but not limited to, poverty and environmental changes.

3. Notes the UK Government's freeports policy and the negotiated changes to UK Government’s original offer.

4. Further notes that three bids from Wales have been submitted for consideration by the UK and Welsh Governments and that local authorities and other partners have put together bids that they believe reflect their communities’ needs.

5. Believes that the issues facing our coastal communities need a broader response including improvement in infrastructure and measures to tackle poverty.

6. Calls on both the UK and Welsh Governments to significantly increase funding for infrastructure and poverty reduction in our coastal communities to address the problems they face.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

11

0

40

51

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Notes that the three bids which were submitted are now being assessed by both the Welsh and UK governments, against the criteria published in the Freeport Programme in Wales Prospectus and the outcome of this process will be jointly decided between Welsh and UK Government Ministers as part of an open and transparent process.

Freeport Programme in Wales: bidding prospectus

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

27

0

24

51

Amendment 2 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8200 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the opportunities for freeports to energise the Welsh economy, create high quality jobs, promote regeneration and investment.

2. Notes that three bids from Wales have been submitted for consideration by the UK and Welsh Governments.

3. Notes that the three bids which were submitted are now being assessed by both the Welsh and UK governments, against the criteria published in the Freeport Programme in Wales Prospectus and the outcome of this process will be jointly decided between Welsh and UK Government Ministers as part of an open and transparent process.

Freeport Programme in Wales: bidding prospectus

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

41

0

10

51

The motion as amended was agreed.