Tata Steel

Part of 5. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:51 pm on 11 March 2020.

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Photo of David Rees David Rees Labour 3:51, 11 March 2020

I thank the Minister for that answer, and I thank him for his correction of my question as well. But clearly, we have mixed views on the news that came out yesterday, whichever way it came out. The 1,000 job losses that had been projected for the UK have gone down to 500, so that's a good bit of news. But of course there are still 500 job losses, whether they are compulsory redundancies or not, which we have been informed they will not be; they are still job losses and an opportunity for young people to move into careers in the steel industry.

We still have no detail as to where those job losses will be or what functions they would be within. It is important, I think, that we now get that detail, and I'm sure you agree with me that it is important that they respect that and that they respect the steelworkers and give them those details. In the original announcement, they indicated that by February we'd know where the functions would be. It's now March, and we just simply have information that the job numbers have gone down, but there's still no detail on where those functions will be or where those functions are located, and that's important.

Steelworkers have given continued dedication to Tata, maintaining and strengthening the steel industry over difficult times. They've faced challenges since the 2017 announcement, and there are global challenges as well. So, it is important that they are given that same respect back by Tata by giving them those details.

I also agree that it doesn't remove the challenges facing the steel industry in Wales and the UK, and the chief executive officer of Tata Europe, Henrik Adam, has himself indicated that there are serious financial challenges still facing the industry. Therefore, will you ensure that the Welsh Government looks at how we can support investment in the steel sector? And will you again—I know you've called upon them before—call upon the UK Government and the new Secretary of State to have a steel council meeting to look at how we can actually expand the steel industry?

They've just sold British Steel in Scunthorpe off to a Chinese company, with a commitment of £1.2 billion investment over the years. Tata have indicated some investment, but we need investment of that level to ensure that we have a playing field in which Tata in Port Talbot and Tata in Wales can actually face the global challenges that are coming down the line. Therefore, will you take that message back to London, to ensure that this is a twenty-first century business? It is modern, it's not old; it is a modern business. It has a strong future, and the UK economy needs a strong steel industry. We need to make sure that message is made loud and clear in London.