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Port Talbot steel plant hangs in balance as Tata meets in Mumbai Port Talbot steel plant hangs in balance as Tata meets in Mumbai
(about 2 hours later)
The business minister Anna Soubry has insisted the government is committed to the future of steelmaking in Britain, as the fate of the Port Talbot plant hangs in the balance. The business minister, Anna Soubry, has insisted the government is committed to the future of steelmaking in Britain, as the fate of the Port Talbot plant hangs in the balance.
The board of Tata Steel, the owner of the Welsh plant, is meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday to decide whether to back an ambitious restructuring plan that would involve laying off hundreds of staff but keeping Port Talbot open – or mothball it altogether.The board of Tata Steel, the owner of the Welsh plant, is meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday to decide whether to back an ambitious restructuring plan that would involve laying off hundreds of staff but keeping Port Talbot open – or mothball it altogether.
Related: Union leaders appeal to Tata Steel ahead of meeting to decide industry's futureRelated: Union leaders appeal to Tata Steel ahead of meeting to decide industry's future
Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, Soubry said, “I don’t think you should underestimate the determination of this prime minister, and this government, to make sure that we continue not just to roll steel at Port Talbot, actually to make it there, and at Scunthorpe as well. That is our determination.” Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, Soubry said: “I don’t think you should underestimate the determination of this prime minister, and this government, to make sure that we continue not just to roll steel at Port Talbot, actually to make it there, and at Scunthorpe as well. That is our determination.”
The Port Talbot site bore the brunt of 1,000 job losses announced in January, but unless Tata presses ahead with a turnaround plan, the future of the huge plant could be in doubt.The Port Talbot site bore the brunt of 1,000 job losses announced in January, but unless Tata presses ahead with a turnaround plan, the future of the huge plant could be in doubt.
Soubry sought to blame Vince Cable, who was business secretary under the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government, for failing to do enough to protect the Port Talbot plant in the past.Soubry sought to blame Vince Cable, who was business secretary under the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government, for failing to do enough to protect the Port Talbot plant in the past.
“I think Vince could have done more: sorry, but that is my view,” she said, adding, “When I was appointed, the prime minister specially said to me, ‘We have some very real problems in our steel industry, and I want you to devote a large amount of your time to solving those problems as much as you can.’” “I think Vince could have done more: sorry, but that is my view,” she said, adding, “When I was appointed, the prime minister specially said to me, ‘We have some very real problems in our steel industry, and I want you to devote a large amount of your time to solving those problems as much as you can’.”
Tata, which employs more than 5,000 people across Wales, blames cheap imports of Chinese steel, and high energy costs, for threatening the future of its UK steelmaking.Tata, which employs more than 5,000 people across Wales, blames cheap imports of Chinese steel, and high energy costs, for threatening the future of its UK steelmaking.
Soubry said it was important to allow the Indian conglomerate to make its own decision, but suggested the government was poised to take action if the plant looks set to be mothballed, saying: “We are looking at all manner of options that may or may not be available to us as a government.” Soubry said it was important to allow the Indian conglomerate to make its own decision but suggested the government was poised to take action if the plant looks set to be closed, saying: “We are looking at all manner of options that may or may not be available to us as a government.”
A crisis has engulfed much of the British steel industry in the past 12 months, with the Redcar steel plant, owned by Thai firm SSI, closing late last year with the loss of 1,700 jobs. A crisis has engulfed much of the British steel industry in the past 12 months, with the Redcar steel plant, owned by the Thai firm SSI, closing late last year with the loss of 1,700 jobs.
Officials from the Community union, which represents steelworkers, reported that they had “constructive” talks with senior company representatives in Mumbai. The board meeting is expected to end by 8pm Mumbai time (3.30pm BST). The PM’s spokeswoman said no British minister was in Mumbai to monitor the progress of Tuesday’s board meeting but the business secretary, Sajid Javid, and the former Welsh secretary Stephen Crabb – who was promoted to work and pensions secretary after the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith – had previously been liaising with Tata over the future of the Port Talbot plant.
A spokesman for Community said: “The delegation from Community led by Roy Rickhuss, general secretary, along with Stephen Kinnock, MP for Aberavon, and Frits van Wieringen, chairman of the Tata Steel European Works Council, met in Mumbai with senior representatives of Tata Steel in advance of the board meeting. “We are working very closely with the industry to look at ways we can help to deliver a long term sustainable future,” the spokeswoman said. “There are already a number of steps that we have taken for the steel industry more broadly. We stand ready to work with Tata.”
“The meeting was open and constructive. The European delegates made the case for Tata to continue to support the UK business. Javid will fly to Australia on Wednesday, where he will meet the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and attend a cybersecurity roundtable.
“Tata Steel representatives outlined the context of commitment to the UK business to date, financial performance and the challenging global conditions of the steel sector.” Officials from the Community trade union, which represents steelworkers, reported they had “constructive” talks with senior company representatives in Mumbai. The board meeting is expected to end by 8pm Mumbai time (3.30pm BST).
A spokesman for Community said: “The delegation from Community led by Roy Rickhuss, general secretary, along with Stephen Kinnock, MP for Aberavon, and Frits van Wieringen, chairman of the Tata Steel European works council, met in Mumbai with senior representatives of Tata Steel in advance of the board meeting.
“The meeting was open and constructive. The European delegates made the case for Tata to continue to support the UK business. Tata Steel representatives outlined the context of commitment to the UK business to date, financial performance and the challenging global conditions of the steel sector.”
More than 35,000 people have signed an open letter to Tata Steel’s chairman, Cyrus Mistry, in support of the UK steelworkers.More than 35,000 people have signed an open letter to Tata Steel’s chairman, Cyrus Mistry, in support of the UK steelworkers.
Angela Eagle, shadow business secretary, said: “The steel industry is of vital strategic importance to the economy but it is hanging by the thinnest of threads. “Against the backdrop of challenging global conditions for the steel sector, it is crucial that the government is prepared to act or we risk losing yet more high-skilled jobs and potentially an entire industry which is vital to our future prosperity.“Steel bosses, workers and entire communities are now looking to the government to stand ready to do all it can to play its part in safeguarding the future of steel making in Britain.” Angela Eagle, the shadow business secretary, said: “The steel industry is of vital strategic importance to the economy but it is hanging by the thinnest of threads. “Against the backdrop of challenging global conditions for the steel sector, it is crucial that the government is prepared to act or we risk losing yet more high-skilled jobs and potentially an entire industry which is vital to our future prosperity.“Steel bosses, workers and entire communities are now looking to the government to stand ready to do all it can to play its part in safeguarding the future of steel making in Britain.”