Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in the plan deliver at least one freeport in each of (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, and (3) Northern Ireland, as set out in The Benefits of Brexit: How the UK is taking advantage of leaving the EU, published on 31 January.

On 25 March 2022 the UK Government and the Scottish Government jointly published the bidding prospectus for two Green Freeports in Scotland, inviting applicants to bid for Green Freeport Status. The bidding period will close on 20 June 2022. We aim to announce winning bids in late summer 2022.

The Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up has discussed establishing a Freeport in Wales with counterparts in the Welsh Government. Good progress is being made towards an agreement that would see a Freeport delivered in Wales as part of a shared endeavour between the UK Government and the Welsh Government.

The UK Government is committed to extending the Freeports programme to Northern Ireland as soon as possible.