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Tata Steel: Recalled assembly members to grill Jones Tata Steel: Industry cannot be allowed to die, Jones says
(35 minutes later)
Welsh Assembly members are set to grill the first minister over the steel crisis on Monday in a hastily reconvened meeting. First Minister Carwyn Jones has said the British steel industry cannot be allowed to die, as assembly members reconvene to discuss the Tata crisis.
Assembly election campaigning has been suspended for the crisis recall after Tata Steel UK went up for sale.Assembly election campaigning has been suspended for the crisis recall after Tata Steel UK went up for sale.
Around 6,000 Welsh jobs are under threat, including more than 4,000 in Port Talbot. About 6,000 Welsh jobs are under threat, including more than 4,000 in Port Talbot.
The assembly meeting comes after tycoon Sanjeev Gupta was linked to a potential purchase of the plant.The assembly meeting comes after tycoon Sanjeev Gupta was linked to a potential purchase of the plant.
The session, which will be 90 minutes long and will start at 13:30 BST, will take place in the Ty Hywel building at the back of the Senedd, as the main chamber is unavailable due to refurbishment. First Minister Carwyn Jones began the session on Monday by updating members on the situation.
First Minister Carwyn Jones will deliver a statement to update members on the latest situation before taking questions. He will then take questions in a meeting due to last 90 minutes.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales ahead of Monday's session, Mr Jones said the Welsh Government was willing to help the steel industry with business rates. The meeting was being held in the old assembly chamber in the Ty Hywel building in Cardiff Bay, as the Senedd chamber is being refurbished.
But he accused the UK government of opposing higher trade tariffs to protect Europe's steel industry. Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Welsh Assembly buildings in Cardiff Bay ahead of the meeting.
"Europe could do it, but the UK government has stopped them from doing it," he said. Steelworker and Unite union rep Matthew Pearcy said the recalling of the assembly was a "really positive sign" which gave a "glimmer of hope".
'Early interest' But he added: "I think the Welsh Assembly are limited on what they can achieve.
Mr Jones also called for action on the UK's high energy costs and for the UK government to be prepared to take over the running of Tata's steel works in Port Talbot if more time was needed to find a buyer. "It's really down to the UK Government to stand up and show us that they mean the words that they have said."
There was "very, very early interest at this stage", he said, but added it was wrong to suggest there was a buyer waiting in the wings.
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said the UK government "stands ready and waiting to support any potential investor" with the cost of taking on the Port Talbot works, such as pensions and power bills.Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said the UK government "stands ready and waiting to support any potential investor" with the cost of taking on the Port Talbot works, such as pensions and power bills.
Following a steel industry taskforce meeting in Cardiff Bay, he said: "There are no guarantees on anything in relation to this. We will do whatever we can."Following a steel industry taskforce meeting in Cardiff Bay, he said: "There are no guarantees on anything in relation to this. We will do whatever we can."
Mr Cairns said he could not disclose how much public money could be involved in the middle of commercially confidential negotiations, but confirmed he had spoken to Mr Gupta about a possible takeover.Mr Cairns said he could not disclose how much public money could be involved in the middle of commercially confidential negotiations, but confirmed he had spoken to Mr Gupta about a possible takeover.
The Welsh Government's Economy Minister Edwina Hart said she wanted to avoid "fragmenting" the steel industry, with Tata's British assets being "cherry picked".The Welsh Government's Economy Minister Edwina Hart said she wanted to avoid "fragmenting" the steel industry, with Tata's British assets being "cherry picked".
Plaid Cymru has accused the Welsh Government of reacting too slowly.Plaid Cymru has accused the Welsh Government of reacting too slowly.
Party leader Leanne Wood also told the Jason Mohammad programme on BBC Radio Wales that environmental taxes could be putting Welsh steel production at "a disadvantage".Party leader Leanne Wood also told the Jason Mohammad programme on BBC Radio Wales that environmental taxes could be putting Welsh steel production at "a disadvantage".
"I'm not convinced taxes and the way climate change levies are set up at the moment are the most efficient and effective," she said."I'm not convinced taxes and the way climate change levies are set up at the moment are the most efficient and effective," she said.
For the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Eluned Parrott claimed there were "serious question marks over Carwyn Jones' leadership during this national crisis". For the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Eluned Parrott claimed there were "serious question marks over Carwyn Jones's leadership during this national crisis".
"Despite the magnitude of this issue, the Labour government appears caught in the headlights and unable to act decisively," she said."Despite the magnitude of this issue, the Labour government appears caught in the headlights and unable to act decisively," she said.
UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill blamed the European Union, telling BBC Radio Wales it was "not doing anything really" to make the UK steel industry more competitive.UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill blamed the European Union, telling BBC Radio Wales it was "not doing anything really" to make the UK steel industry more competitive.
When asked why UKIP Euro-MPs voted against trade reforms which could have increased tariffs on Chinese steel in 2014, he said: "We have a policy that we do not ever vote for anything that calls on the commission to act on behalf of Great Britain.When asked why UKIP Euro-MPs voted against trade reforms which could have increased tariffs on Chinese steel in 2014, he said: "We have a policy that we do not ever vote for anything that calls on the commission to act on behalf of Great Britain.
"At the time we had five MEPs who voted against it. Those five votes made no difference whatsoever.""At the time we had five MEPs who voted against it. Those five votes made no difference whatsoever."
The Welsh Government is also holding a cabinet meeting on Monday. Tata has other Welsh plants at Trostre, Shotton, Llanwern and Newport, while UK plants in Rotherham, Scunthorpe and Corby are also affected.
Tata has other Welsh plants at Trostre, Shotton, Llanwern and Newport, while UK plants in Rotherham and Corby are also affected. Trade unions representing Tata Steel workers across the UK have called on the prime minister to take personal charge of the rescue talks.
Meanwhile trade unions representing steel workers have called on the prime minister to take personal charge of the rescue talks. Union officials from the threatened plants meeting in London accused Business Secretary Sajid Javid of "taking his eye off the ball", and called on David Cameron "to get a grip" of the negotiations.
Union officials from the threatened Tata plants meeting in London accused Business Secretary Sajid Javid of "taking his eye off the ball", and called on David Cameron "to get a grip" of the negotiations.