The Future of the Steel Industry in Wales

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:38 pm on 17 September 2019.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 1:38, 17 September 2019

I thank John Griffiths, who speaks, I know, on behalf of those many individuals and families in his own constituency who are affected by the announcement. The Minister for Economy and Transport spoke to Tata Steel immediately following the announcement to make these points to them—that they have this long history of an immensely loyal, committed workforce, who've gone through many changes in that past and would be with them on a journey of change if they were willing to pursue it in the future. And there is, as John Griffiths said, and as I said in my answer to Rhun ap Iorwerth, a strategic case for ensuring that, in the United Kingdom, there is a capacity to manufacture steel that will be needed for new forms of vehicles and new possibilities in the future. We make all those points to the company, where we have those opportunities, while at the same time making it clear to that workforce that, should the assistance of the Welsh Government and the approach we put in place when people need to find new skills and new job opportunities be needed, we will be there to support them when that time comes.