3. Statement by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales: Tata Steel

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:57 pm on 17 November 2020.

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Photo of Jack Sargeant Jack Sargeant Labour 3:57, 17 November 2020

Can I thank the Minister for his statement? And can I also pay tribute to the workforce at Shotton steelworks, including my fellow Community and Unite union members? Their hard work and skill really does produce the best steel, making the Shotton site actually profitable.

Minister, you've already commented on the offsite logistics hub, which I've been a long-standing supporter of, and you've just commented on the apprenticeship programme at Tata; I look forward to receiving more information on that. Perhaps today you could comment on the wider training of staff, which is something that Welsh Government provides funding for, and also the opportunity to use the world's best steel and most sustainable steel as part of a green manufacturing recovery from COVID, especially as the Shotton site is looking to transition towards being carbon neutral.

Now, I must say, Deputy Llywydd, finally, this support from this Welsh Labour Government and the support they've offered in the past is in stark contrast to the UK Conservative Government, who have been far too often missing, and I must say—. I hear tutting, but I must say my community—my community—is still devastated from what happened during the Thatcher Government, and it is long, long from forgotten. So, Minister, could you update the Chamber on how confident you are that UK Ministers get the need to provide urgent support for Welsh sustainable steel, and have a strategy in place to do so?