Hi-Lex

Part of 4. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:46 pm on 16 October 2019.

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Photo of David Rees David Rees Labour 3:46, 16 October 2019

Can I thank the Minister for that answer? The Hi-Lex Cable System Company Limited actually was one of the first businesses to move onto the Baglan Energy Park back in the 1990s. It's been there for over 20-odd years, and it's been in profit. You quite rightly pointed out that one of the problems it's now facing is the loss of customers because of the uncertainty in the automotive sector, particularly Honda closing in Swindon, which is one of its major customers. This is not a situation where a business is actually closing down; the business is transferring to another part of the European Union. It's going to Hungary, and this site will actually close within probably about 12 months—they've guaranteed, at this point of time 12 months, no redundancies. But who knows, if Honda goes earlier, what will happen as a consequence of that?

Now, the situation for workers is—. And there are no trade unions within the business, so there is no organisation basically there to help support workers in any redundancy discussions, so will the Welsh Government step in and talk with Hi-Lex to allow it to work with the employees to ensure that individuals, who may be facing redundancy in the coming months, are able to actually get the best deal situation possible and they're not left without any representation whatsoever? Will you also talk to Hi-Lex to see how you can help and work with them to ensure that the 12 months they've given at the moment is going to be 12 months, and we don't actually see a shortening of that? Will you also work with the local authority? Because, clearly, if we're trying to find new employment, we need to attract new investment, we need to encourage growth within local businesses. Because these are well-paid, high-skilled jobs that are leaving this area, and 125 families that are now facing a difficult future because of the unknown of what will happen beyond their employment at that company. 

It is important the Welsh Government now steps up to the mark, and also the UK Government needs to step up to the mark, because, clearly, the whole manufacturing sector across the UK is struggling, because of Brexit, because of other circumstances, because of global economies. And I don't see the UK Government stepping up to the plate. Welsh Government has to step up to the plate now. And will you give me the guarantees, and will you give the workers those guarantees, that Welsh Government will act and will help them and will support them as best possible?