3. 2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:53 pm on 11 July 2017.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 2:53, 11 July 2017

I’d like to raise with the leader of the house, the possibility of having a statement. Although not in my constituency, I’ve been approached by workers who are deeply distressed by the news about Coilcolor today and the potential that 50 jobs could be lost by the end of the week in Newport. There does seem to be a dispute between the Welsh Government and this particular company. I don’t particularly want to prejudice any discussions and negotiations that are ongoing, but the crux of the matter seems to be a claim against the Welsh Government that now is putting a question mark over the long-term viability of the business and, in particular, the 50 jobs that are within this business. It does seem to have got a strong order book from what I can deduce from talking to some of the employees this morning. To bring clarity to the picture that has emerged over the last couple of hours, could I encourage the Cabinet Secretary sitting next to you to make a statement and put as much information as possible in the public domain, as I say, without prejudicing any claims that might be before the Government, so that employees and, indeed, the owner of this company can have clarity as to exactly where any dispute resolution might be and the financial implications for this company, because the last thing I think any of us want to wake up to on Saturday morning—i.e. the end of this week—is 50 people out of work in Newport because of a dispute that seems to have been going on for some months.