The Trostre Plant in Llanelli

Part of 4. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:46 pm on 3 April 2019.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 3:46, 3 April 2019

Can I thank Suzy Davies for her questions as well, and say that this won't delay consideration of further support for Port Talbot and further support for skills training provision, should it be requested, in the months to come? The Member is absolutely right; £60 million was put on the table in order to support steel facilities in Wales in March of 2016, and £17 million pounds has been drawn down today, including, of course, a very significant amount of money for Port Talbot and the blast furnace in order to make sure that it's a more competitive facility than it was in the past.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I think it would be perhaps helpful for Members if I were to circulate a note on conditionality for Welsh Government support. Clearly, there are some issues that cannot be disclosed for commercial confidentiality purposes. However, I would like Members to be as knowledgeable as possible on how we are tying Welsh Government or taxpayer support to very strict conditions to ensure that as many jobs are protected for as long as possible.

The Member is absolutely right to raise the question of the potential impact on the ecosystem within Wales. Now, the Commission will make a decision on the proposed venture by 5 June, and at the point of a decision being made, we'll be able to ascertain what—if, indeed, any—impact there will be on the ecosystem. Of course, it's worth noting that Trostre is profitable and it is competitive, because it has been sourcing steel from Port Talbot. Given that it would have to be sold as a viable concern and as a competitive business, I would surely expect that it would go on sourcing steel from the facility that has helped to make it a profitable concern.