Tata Steel and Thyssenkrupp

Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:21 pm on 15 May 2019.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 3:21, 15 May 2019

I'd like to pick up on your comments that you will be heading to the Netherlands to speak to Tata executives there and to just ask you what discussions you have had to date with Tata operations outside the UK, not just on a European level, but worldwide, too. There is an article on Bloomberg in which Tata's chief finance officer has been quoted saying that Tata will be shifting its focus to the Indian steel market, and that the European operation must not draw resources away from the expansion in India, even going so far as to say that assets would need to be sold off to make business more profitable, putting the future of Welsh steel in even further doubt. I certainly would categorise that as serious clouds on the horizon.

Now, the collapse of the merger has meant that of course the European operation will in a way be more reliant on the Indian operation's resources, meaning that, in the near future, Tata could or will have to look at deinvesting in Europe based on the priorities set out by the chief financial officer. So I'd like your comments on that. Tata has also stated that they will also be looking at partnerships with non-European companies. Can I ask what discussions you have had with regard to that possibility?