The Future of the Steel Industry in Wales

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:31 pm on 17 September 2019.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 1:31, 17 September 2019

Well, Llywydd, I thank David Rees for that follow-up question. Of course, he is right; it is deeply disappointing that the UK Government has failed to deliver a sector deal for the steel industry, despite the many opportunities that we have taken to put that case to them. And they won't do it because they have failed to solve some of the issues that lie directly in their own hands. Time after time, the industry and the Welsh Government have urged the UK Government to tackle the issue of industrial electricity price disparity between the United Kingdom and competitors of Tata on the continent of Europe. As recently as 27 August, my colleague Ken Skates was discussing this with the new Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy. It's time for the UK Government to step up and to play their part in supporting the steel industry in Port Talbot and more widely in Wales. And, of course, it is disappointing to have had the news on 2 September that no buyer has been found for the Orb site in Newport. It's disappointing for Wales and it's extremely worrying for workers at that plant. 

Now, I welcome the fact that Tata have said that they aim to avoid compulsory redundancies and to offer alternative employment at other sites. But that consultation that's being carried out with staff needs to be real, it needs to attend carefully to the case being made by the trade unions on behalf of their members, and, as a Welsh Government, we will work with the trade union movement, as well as with the company, to do everything we can to support that very loyal and very skilled workforce.