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Port Talbot Tata Steel: Assembly set for crisis recall Port Talbot Tata Steel: Assembly recalled amid crisis
(about 2 hours 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 has been recalled on Monday 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. First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "We will support any viable option to ensure the future of the Welsh steel industry."
'One voice' Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns told BBC Wales it was a "sensitive matter", but "every option" to save the plant was being explored by the UK government.
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. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was expected to visit the Port Talbot site later on Wednesday.
Members were not due to return to the Senedd until after the election in May. Management buy-out
Dame Rosemary's office said the request was being considered with an announcement to be made later on Wednesday. Politicians from all parties have urged ministers to step in amid fears that Tata could shut its UK plants before a buyer can be found.
However, the Senedd chamber is currently being refurbished with new IT being fitted, making its availability uncertain.
'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. Speaking outside the Port Talbot plant, Mr Jones said: "If there is a management buy-out that's on the table, we will look to support that.
"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. "We will work with the UK Government to support that - we want to make sure that the Welsh steel industry continues and works towards the future."
"I don't think they've talked about doing that yet but I'm sure their patience is limited." Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler accepted a request from Mr Jones that the assembly - currently in Easter recess - be recalled on Monday to discuss the crisis.
Members had not been due to return to the Senedd until after the election in May.
They will meet in the old debating chamber in the Ty Hywel office block, with the usual Senedd chamber undergoing refurbishment.
Bail out
Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Conservative group in Cardiff Bay, called for the UK government to be prepared to take a temporary stake in the Port Talbot steelworks.
He said: "In recent years we have offered significant support to the banking sector because we all recognised its importance to the wider economy.
"Now we must be prepared to offer similar support to secure the future of our steel industry - even if that means taking a temporary stake in Tata Steel in Port Talbot."
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams also called for temporary renationalisation to save the Port Talbot plant, saying: "Many of our communities strongly rely on this industry. We must stand up for them, learn lessons from the past, and take strong action now."
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood told BBC News: "This industry is as important to Wales, I would argue, as the banking sector is to the whole of the UK.
"If the banks could be bailed out, then the steel industry should be bailed out too."
The actor Michael Sheen, who comes from Port Talbot, also highlighted government backing for banks.
Writing for The Guardian, he said: "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."
However, UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill claimed "the shackles of restrictive EU regulations" prevented a "democratic UK government" from tackling the problem of high energy costs.
"Who would buy an industry like this now? Nobody would," he added.
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."
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.
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."
Analysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editorAnalysis 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 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.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.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.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 NickRead more from Nick