Debates between John Hayes and Maria Caulfield during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Hayes and Maria Caulfield
Thursday 12th January 2017

(7 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Maria Caulfield Portrait Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con)
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T6. The excellent report “The Free Ports Opportunity”, written by my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Rishi Sunak), sets out the possibilities for UK ports to become free ports, post-Brexit. It estimates that that could create 86,000 jobs in the UK. Will the Minister of State outline the possibilities for ports such as that in Newhaven in my constituency to become free ports, post-Brexit?

John Hayes Portrait Mr John Hayes
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I have with me the report to which my hon. Friend refers. It is an excellent piece of work, and I have already arranged to meet its author. I initiated the maritime growth study when I was last in the Department, but it is time to refresh that. It must be a living document. As part of that exercise, we will consider the role of ports now that we are freed from the clutches of the European Union. My ambitions are, as ever, measured and modest: I seek nothing more than for Britannia to rule the waves.