8. Urgent Question: Tata

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:16 pm on 15 February 2017.

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Photo of David Rees David Rees Labour 6:16, 15 February 2017

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer, though I need to expand a bit on my original question. But I’m sure he appreciates that, since January last year, there have been some very dark skies over Port Talbot and the steelworks there, the local community and the local economy. We’ll now seeing, perhaps, after this ballot, the lifting of those dark skies and greater certainty over the medium term starting to be visible.

Now, steelworkers have given Tata an opportunity to rebuild the confidence that they have lost, or at best strained, over the recent months, and I hope that Tata take that opportunity and deliver on the promised investment as soon as possible, along with the other points in the proposals, including equality and parity with plants across the EU for their workforce.

Now, workers have made sacrifices to put the priority of the industry at the fore and I hope that, perhaps, the Welsh Government will lead on ensuring that those priorities and the interests of steelworkers are at the fore. Cabinet Secretary, I’m sure you agree that that needs to be across all parties, not just the Welsh Government, but the UK Government and Tata itself.

Can I put on record my recognition of the hard work and commitment by the trade unions, who have made some very difficult decisions during this time in the interests of their members and of the industry? But Cabinet Secretary, today’s ballot result is only a step on the path to a long-term sustainable future here in Wales and across the UK, and we still have far to go as a consequence of that. So, can I ask the following of you: what discussions have you had with Tata on their investment plans and the timescales associated with those plans? And have you received any assurances from them in relation to delivering their commitments on that proposal? How quickly can you as a Welsh Government be in a position to actually support investment? I know you’ve already committed £12 million, but how quickly can you commit other funding to other aspects, whether it be for research, for plant, training or other areas that help the industry? The spectre of the ThyssenKrupp joint venture still hangs over the whole industry and existed throughout the ballot. It hasn’t gone away; it’s still there. So, what discussions have you had with Tata regarding the implications for such a joint venture, particularly for the Welsh steel industry and the workforce? Have you had discussions with the UK Government, because the levers for many of the issues now faced in the steel industry are with them? What discussions have you had with the UK Government on their actions, because to date, to be blunt, I have seen very little action from the UK Government, to ensure that they now play their part in making the steel industry here in Wales a secure steel industry, one that is fit for the future and one that will continue to deliver? The workforce have done their job. They’ve committed the last four months. They’ve delivered production levels beyond the highest levels. They have actually even supported this ballot at a cost to themselves. Surely, your discussions should be telling the UK Government to stand up and take action. We want that action. Steelworkers want that action. Can you tell me what they’re doing?