Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing free ports throughout the UK.

Freeports will be established after we leave the EU and will play a significant role in boosting trade. They will attract inward investment and drive productive activity across the UK, which will help rejuvenate deprived communities across the country through increased employment opportunities.

The Government is engaging with industry experts and economists to ensure we make Freeports a success, by developing an extremely ambitious and attractive offer to businesses interested in investing in our Freeports

The Government is committed to working with the DAs to ensure a Freeport policy that works for the whole UK. Specific locations for Freeports will be chosen in due course according to a fair, transparent and robust bidding process. The Government is keen to ensure that the bidding process is fair and open, and that the government is not seen to show favour to particular areas over others.