<p>The Welsh Steel Sector</p>

Part of 3. 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:05 pm on 20 September 2017.

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Photo of David Rees David Rees Labour 3:05, 20 September 2017

Well, thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary—very brief and very short.

Now, that announcement of a joint venture clearly has been something in the background, and many concerns have been expressed by steelworkers in my constituency and across Wales regarding the future of steel making here in Wales. Only 18 months ago we saw the threat of closure in the Port Talbot works. Beyond that we saw the threat of selling off the steel industry in south Wales, only to find that, eventually, they recognised that the plan, or ‘the bridge’, as it was known, actually did work, and therefore made the steel industry viable, and all those were removed.

But once again we face some uncertainty because of this announcement. I understand the unions have given a cautious welcome, but there are some issues, particularly in the detail, and we need to give confidence to the steelworkers in Wales who have dedicated themselves and committed themselves to improving steel making here in Wales. So, in that respect, can you tell me what discussions you have been having with Tata to ensure that the agreement to invest the £1 billion in steel making is going to be honoured by a new venture, because legally there’s a different entity now in place, or will be in place, particularly as that was at the cost of pensions to many workers?

What actions are you taking as a Welsh Government to ensure that the proposed advanced steel research centre that was being discussed will continue at Swansea University, and not perhaps be hived off for research in other parts of the EU? What assurances have you received for a sustainable future for steel making here in Wales, to ensure that the Port Talbot works is not short term, but is actually continued to be long term, and the jobs are long term? And what actions are you taking with the UK Government who, to be blunt, to this date have been very ineffective—my word is ‘useless’—because historically they’ve done nothing? But you need now to work with them to make sure they buy into steel making here in Wales.