The Scottish Government has announced that it will implement plans to develop a ‘green port’ model designed to meet the specific needs of the Scottish economy.
A statement by Business Secretary Ivan McKee explained that Westminster officials were unwilling to commit to a fair Holyrood working conditions and net zero specifications for the proposed free trade zones.
A letter from Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack failed to provide a firm commitment from the UK government on the payment of the real living wage and net zero conditionality, while also failing to provide funding for it. installation equivalent for Scotland to that offered for the English free port. model.
McKee said: “I have made it clear that any model implemented in Scotland must include a firm commitment to conditionality around fair work and net zero.
“These are central principles of Scotland’s future economy and principles on which we cannot compromise.
“It is difficult to understand why UK ministers would seek to dilute a strong commitment to fair work, including the payment of real living wages, when they seek to implement their freeport policy in Scotland.
“The Scottish government therefore has no choice but to push forward plans to further develop our model of a green port which responds to the specific needs of the Scottish economy.”
Following “productive discussions” with the Chief Treasury Secretary, the Scottish government was ready to issue a joint green ports tender prospectus for Scotland in March, but this was again delayed .
The previously proposed Scottish model adapts the English plan, where businesses within the sites will be offered temporary tax breaks.
Goods arriving there from abroad are exempt from the tariffs that are normally paid to the government. These taxes are only paid if the goods leave the free port and are moved elsewhere in the UK.
In May, the UK government confirmed that freeport employers will be able to pay less national insurance for all new workers, starting in April 2022.
Free ports are generally located around shipping ports or airports. The eight new UK sites are expected to be at East Midlands Airport, Felixstowe and Harwich, Humber region, Liverpool region, Plymouth, Solent, Thames and Teesside.
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