Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:49 pm on 17 November 2020.
Minister, can I thank you for your statement this afternoon? I find it very encouraging, the position that you've taken. Can I also thank you for all the support that the Welsh Government has given to the steel industry over the years? Steelworkers in my constituency are very grateful for that support and, as you quite rightly pointed out earlier in your contribution, they are the best in the world and they have given much to the industry, and now they want the industry to continue honouring their commitment to them and to their families.
In relation to your points made, I think that it's important that the UK Government now takes this opportunity—and I see it as an opportunity—to actually get a steel industry for the United Kingdom, which will provide a foundation for other manufacturing across the country. And this is a chance, I think, for them to step up to the plate and become an active player in the industrial strategy of the UK. I hope they take it.
Now, in your statement, you indicated that the funding support from Tata Steel India in the future is not going to be needed. That's their focus—they want to make it sustainable. But have you had any indication as to to when they will continue supporting it and at what point they expect to be self-sustaining, so that we have at least a target we can look towards in ensuring that industry becomes self-sustaining?
Also, on the decarbonisation agenda, everyone talks about hydrogen. That is some years down the line, as the technology is not quite there yet. But one thing that is available is carbon capture and storage. Are you looking at further research and development in that area to ensure that there's a possibility of decarbonising the industry in Port Talbot in particular, because, clearly, that's where the heavy end is, and that's where the large carbon emissions would be? Have you had good discussions with your colleague in the Cabinet, Lesley Griffiths, regarding the emissions trading scheme that is being put into place to replace the European emissions trading scheme to ensure this is not going to be detrimental to the steel industry in the future and that the UK model will be very supportive and useable for the UK steel sector?
We talked about skills and the separation of the businesses into a Dutch component and a UK component. And we do know that the elements are currently based in Holland, because they did go from Port Talbot over to Holland—the R&D and the sales. What discussions will you be having for the skills agenda to ensure that those come back? And how are you working with the research and development, particularly Swansea—because I know that Tata work with Swansea and Warwick, but particularly Swansea and the Steel and Metal Institute—to ensure that that's the centre for R&D for steel in the UK and it becomes critical for Tata to work with them?