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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Port Talbot Tata Steel: Assembly set for crisis recall | Port Talbot Tata Steel: Assembly set for crisis recall |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The assembly is set to be recalled to discuss the future of the Port Talbot steelworks, where thousands of jobs are at risk. | The assembly is set to be recalled to discuss the future of the Port Talbot steelworks, where thousands of jobs are at risk. |
| It comes after Tata Steel said it wanted to sell its loss-making UK business. | It comes after Tata Steel said it wanted to sell its loss-making UK business. |
| The Indian firm said it would "explore all options", including "divestment". | The Indian firm said it would "explore all options", including "divestment". |
| Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns told BBC Wales it was a "sensitive matter", but "every option" to save the plant was being explored. | Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns told BBC Wales it was a "sensitive matter", but "every option" to save the plant was being explored. |
| 'One voice' | 'One voice' |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones wrote to Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler on Wednesday requesting that the assembly - currently in Easter recess - be recalled on Monday. | First Minister Carwyn Jones wrote to Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler on Wednesday requesting that the assembly - currently in Easter recess - be recalled on Monday. |
| Members were not due to return to the Senedd until after the election in May. | Members were not due to return to the Senedd until after the election in May. |
| Dame Rosemary's office said the request was being considered with an announcement to be made later on Wednesday. | Dame Rosemary's office said the request was being considered with an announcement to be made later on Wednesday. |
| However, the Senedd chamber is currently being refurbished with new IT being fitted, making its availability uncertain. | |
| 'Safe haven' | 'Safe haven' |
| Tata Steel finance director Koushik Chatterjee confirmed on Wednesday the firm had rejected a rescue plan submitted by the unions, saying: "We found that risks to the plan are very significant." | Tata Steel finance director Koushik Chatterjee confirmed on Wednesday the firm had rejected a rescue plan submitted by the unions, saying: "We found that risks to the plan are very significant." |
| Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Conservative group in Cardiff Bay, said ministers had a critical role in creating a "safe haven" to allow negotiations to take place. | Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Conservative group in Cardiff Bay, said ministers had a critical role in creating a "safe haven" to allow negotiations to take place. |
| "What we don't want happening is that a panic situation sets in and Tata actually have an emergency shutdown of the plants," he told BBC News. | "What we don't want happening is that a panic situation sets in and Tata actually have an emergency shutdown of the plants," he told BBC News. |
| "I don't think they've talked about doing that yet but I'm sure their patience is limited." | "I don't think they've talked about doing that yet but I'm sure their patience is limited." |
| UK Business Minister Anna Soubry said the UK government was looking at all options to save the Port Talbot plant, including taking a stake in the business. | UK Business Minister Anna Soubry said the UK government was looking at all options to save the Port Talbot plant, including taking a stake in the business. |
| Plaid Cymru's Adam Price responded via Twitter, saying: "Glad to see Plaid's Plan B of temporary steel nationalisation, dismissed as fantasy, has now become official UK and Welsh Government policy." | Plaid Cymru's Adam Price responded via Twitter, saying: "Glad to see Plaid's Plan B of temporary steel nationalisation, dismissed as fantasy, has now become official UK and Welsh Government policy." |
| Welsh Liberal Democrat Peter Black called on the UK government to "fully nationalise the business so as to make it profitable in the long term so it can be resold at a later date". | Welsh Liberal Democrat Peter Black called on the UK government to "fully nationalise the business so as to make it profitable in the long term so it can be resold at a later date". |
| Meanwhile the actor Michael Sheen, who comes from Port Talbot, called on ministers to give the steel industry the same support it had given the banking sector. | Meanwhile the actor Michael Sheen, who comes from Port Talbot, called on ministers to give the steel industry the same support it had given the banking sector. |
| Writing for The Guardian, he said: "The steel industry was shaken hard by the financial crisis in 2008. The banking industry was helped enormously to recover from that. | Writing for The Guardian, he said: "The steel industry was shaken hard by the financial crisis in 2008. The banking industry was helped enormously to recover from that. |
| "I hope that we can see as much support for the steel industry and its workers now that they face their time of greatest need." | "I hope that we can see as much support for the steel industry and its workers now that they face their time of greatest need." |
| Analysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor | |
| It seems inevitable that the assembly will be recalled to discuss the crisis in the steel industry a matter of weeks before the election. | |
| The key question is whether the Welsh Government can do something other than providing the usual level of support for regeneration and training for workers who have lost their jobs. | |
| The Scottish Government recently bought two mothballed steel plants in Lanarkshire from Tata before selling them to a private company on the same day. | |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones has said he'd consider something like that but admits there are major differences in the scale. | |
| The buy-out in Scotland will secure about 200 jobs. We are now talking about thousands, and the future of the biggest steel plant in Britain. | |
| Read more from Nick |