8. Urgent Question: Tata

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:26 pm on 15 February 2017.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 6:26, 15 February 2017

Can I thank the Member for her questions and contribution, but I do take issue with the demand that we, Welsh Government, should show leadership now and step up to invest in the sector? In December, we announced the first package of support that was being invested in our sites. That included £4 million investment in skills development—not just at one site, but at every single site across our country. It included £8 million towards an £18 million investment in the power plant at Port Talbot to reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. And now, as I said, we are ready to take forward a series of other measures that will improve energy efficiency at Welsh sites, we’re looking at a capital expenditure programme at Shotton, and also improvements to the galvanising line at Port Talbot. Today’s decision has meant that we can expedite that work and give workers the confidence that they will be operating in modern facilities that are competitive.

In terms of Tata itself and the confidence that needs to be built amongst its workforce, there is, of course, a need now for Tata to demonstrate its loyalty to Wales, to the workers who have shown such loyalty to the sector in voting the way that they have, and they offered a deal concerning pensions that they assured workers would be sustainable. It’s now for them to prove it and to deliver it, but it’s also for them to deliver the investment that we are working in partnership with them on.