Sir Bernard calls for more support to help Harwich thrive

Harwich and Felixstowe’s bid to become a freeport was approved by the Government in March.

Freeport status means areas will benefit from tax reliefs and simplified customs procedures in order to encourage economic activity.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, the Harwich and North Essex MP argued tax incentives provided by the upcoming freeport are necessary, but that more support is needed.

Sir Bernard said the tax incentives that come with freeport status alone were not sufficient enough to deliver on the ‘levelling up’ agenda.

He said: “I wish to emphasise the Freeport East was very much driven by the need for levelling up.

Harwich International Port

“The perception is: ‘Oh, you’re in the rich South East. You don’t need any help. It all needs to be directed to other parts of the United Kingdom’.

“Well, I can tell the House places like Clacton, Jaywick and Harwich are hard bitten by economic decline.

“Average weekly earnings in Tendring district, which is Clacton and Harwich, are £556, compared with a British average of £587.

“We have a project which could generate, we hope, 13,500 jobs.

“We have a great opportunity and MPs who represent the freeports that have been designated should get together and start working together to press the Government for the positive changes that will benefit all our freeports in the future.”

He added: “Let us also recognise the real benefit of freeports are not the tax incentives, but the customs facilitation.

“We must have really modern electronic customs systems to make the customs advantages of being in what is called a customs inversion zone real.

“Otherwise, it becomes a bureaucratic nightmare and we will not get the advantages we should get from it.”