, Plenary
Urgent Debate: Job losses at Tata Steel and the future of the steel industry in Wales
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I'd like to start by thanking Members who have contributed to this debate, and to recognise a range of high-quality contributions, I think, to this debate, in both opening it, and recognising both Delyth Jewell and Sioned in the Plaid…
, Plenary
Proposal for an Urgent Debate under Standing Order 12.69: Job losses at Tata Steel, and the future of the steel industry in Wales
We have no objection to the proposal.
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
Thank you for the questions. I'll deal with your point around alternatives, because not only the work around the Swansea bay city deal, looking to grow the economy, but in particular you mentioned the Global Centre of Rail Excellence—. We know that there is…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
Thank you. I'm really pleased that you've made the point around net zero. The 300 job losses that are being discussed and described for Llanwern in two to three years' time are a real issue for us now. As I said earlier, I know there is a significant number…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
Thank you. Of course, I have visited the Shotton steelworks with the Member. It's a point worth mentioning that the current regional secretary of Unite used to work at Shotton when he was on the tools himself. So, look, it's an area with a long history and…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
So, this has been part of the discussion that we've had at the transition board, where I have raised the issue that, if you're going to have large-scale redundancies, there is always a mental health impact. Often, it can be dealt with at a lower level. So…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
I've visited Trostre on more than one occasion in the past. Actually, in terms of the current make-up, the Unite full-time officer for steel in Wales, Jason Bartlett, worked at Trostre, and, indeed, whenever I go there, the Community representative, who is…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
I think that contribution will land very poorly with directly affected workers. I don't often say this, but Andrew R.T. Davies understood much more clearly the mood of workers when he recognised that he wants to see a future where the blast furnace stays…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
The point is well made and understood, certainly here. I was concerned not just about the headline job losses at Port Talbot; I've always been concerned about the impact on downstream businesses, especially Trostre and Llanwern. I know that he will be worried…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
There's certainly no shrugging of shoulders in this Welsh Government about the future for steelworking communities here in Wales, or, indeed, the future of the country as a whole. That is recognised by workers in this sector. They understand that they do…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
I think there's more to admire in party loyalty than in a grasp of the issues in that contribution. I've been very clear that there is an alternative. The company itself has been clear that it's a credible plan, but it's not affordable. With a different UK…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
Thank you, David. I think that David Rees is right, and you don't just need to take my word for it. It could not have been clearer. The shop stewards that I met from all three trade unions are steel workers on that site. I met them on Friday. I met a larger…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
Thank you for the comments and questions. I'll start with the final couple of points of detail, because on apprentices, we've already been clear that the big cliff edge has been thrust upon us because of the way that former EU funds have been taken away from…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
Now, I hope that when the plan, the detail of the plan, is available, UK Ministers will take the opportunity to look at that again. I would much rather see, before a general election, that there is an opportunity to reconsider and to save these jobs. That…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
Thank you for the comments and the questions, and I think we need to restate at the outset that we have a series of proposals, not guaranteed outcomes. I've seen far too much commentary that simply accepts that everything that has been announced is going to…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
Llywydd, this represents an economic loss of historic proportions for Wales within an industry that all of us will become increasingly reliant upon. Rather than providing a bridge to the future that sees us produce cleaner steel, the deal struck by UK…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Economy: Tata Steel
Diolch, Llywydd. The announcement made by Tata Steel UK on 19 January has caused enormous distress and anxiety for thousands of workers, their families and whole communities in Wales, especially in Port Talbot. The steel industry is part of our nation's story…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Minister for Economy
No problem. Thank you, Chair.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Minister for Economy
But what that meant was that we were able to display something that's coherent about life sciences from Wales. We were able to do that in a way where two or three of those businesses might have been able to go there themselves, but, actually, the great…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Minister for Economy
Well, I'll look at the size and scale of the market and have advice from the team about where the market is, what the biggest opportunities are and how we will do that. So, it's not easy, because, in each of our trade missions, we end up knowing that we've…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Minister for Economy
We will still run an international trade programme. It's been reduced. So, as an example, last year, we had 19 trade and exhibition missions; it's likely to be 16 or 17. So, there'll be three places we don't go and don't directly support businesses to go, and…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Minister for Economy
And, actually, there's a real interest in what happens in Wales as part of that, as well, but actually being there physically makes people more interested as well. We've got people who are interested in what we're doing on the circular economy not just as a…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Minister for Economy
So, the year of Wales in Germany has finished. I went there, to Baden Württemberg. As part of that visit, I went to Munich, I went through Cologne. It was not just an interesting experience on German trains, but, actually, we met members from the Government…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Minister for Economy
That's right. The year of Wales in Germany has just finished.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25: Minister for Economy
I met the ambassador yesterday.
