4. 4. Statement: Tata Steel

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:10 pm on 8 June 2016.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Suzy Davies Suzy Davies Conservative 4:10, 8 June 2016

Thank you for your statement, First Minister, particularly your comments regarding procurement. In your statement you mentioned a commitment to the long-term sustainable steel industry and confirmed to Neil Hamilton, later in the debate today, that that included what you called the heavy end of works at Port Talbot. Yet, it was reported a few days ago in ‘The Guardian’ that none of the bidders were guaranteeing a long-term future for Port Talbot and were seeking cash from Tata as well as from both Governments. Is it your view, then, that any bid that does not include a future for the blast furnaces should not survive the bidding process assessment being conducted by Tata at the moment?

You also said in your statement that Tata’s priority is to conduct a sale. It does worry me that they confirmed to you, and as you mentioned in the debate we held during recess, that Tata told you that they had a strong preference not to sell. They told the Secretary of State, Sajid Javid, almost back as far as Christmas, I think, that they were intending to sell and now, even this week, Tata’s indicating that they may not want to sell Port Talbot after all. I do share the views of other Members in this Chamber regarding the disingenuousness of Tata, perhaps, if I can call it that. So, in your constructive and significant discussions, as you call them, and your indication that you stand ready to support any bidder, which of course could include Tata, bearing in mind that they’ve indicated they might want to hang on to part of the work here in Wales, what clarity and guarantees have you secured, or are likely to secure, in view of the fact that you’re willing to commit £60 million or more of money that could be spent elsewhere by the Welsh Government, when you’ve been speaking to those bodies?

Then, thirdly, if you have time to answer this, in targeting the job support, what specific conversations have you been having with the Swansea bay city region board about identifying the targeted nature of the offer that the taskforce engagement has been able to provide so far? Because, obviously, it’s not just any job we’d be looking for for these steelworkers, but jobs that have a future as well.