This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-35960487
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Steel crisis: Jones urges PM to give substantial support | Steel crisis: Jones urges PM to give substantial support |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones has urged David Cameron to offer "substantial support" to potential buyers of Tata Steel plants. | Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones has urged David Cameron to offer "substantial support" to potential buyers of Tata Steel plants. |
| Tata plans to sell its UK plants, which employ 15,000 people - 6,000 in Wales - and support thousands more. | Tata plans to sell its UK plants, which employ 15,000 people - 6,000 in Wales - and support thousands more. |
| After a crisis meeting in Downing Street on Tuesday, Mr Jones said it was "heartening" to hear nothing was off the table. | After a crisis meeting in Downing Street on Tuesday, Mr Jones said it was "heartening" to hear nothing was off the table. |
| He called for temporary public ownership to make time to find a buyer. | He called for temporary public ownership to make time to find a buyer. |
| Mr Jones said it was a "productive" meeting which covered issues such as pensions, energy costs and tariffs. | Mr Jones said it was a "productive" meeting which covered issues such as pensions, energy costs and tariffs. |
| "Discussions have taken place with buyers - these are early days yet, but we do have something to build on even at this early stage," he said. | "Discussions have taken place with buyers - these are early days yet, but we do have something to build on even at this early stage," he said. |
| "If the UK government needs to take over Tata's assets in the short term to enable a sale process to take place then that's something the UK government should consider. | "If the UK government needs to take over Tata's assets in the short term to enable a sale process to take place then that's something the UK government should consider. |
| "What's important now is we carry on working to make sure the jobs we have in steel in Wales, and indeed the jobs in England, can be preserved for the future. | "What's important now is we carry on working to make sure the jobs we have in steel in Wales, and indeed the jobs in England, can be preserved for the future. |
| "Steel is a strategic industry for the UK - we can't imagine being a major industrial economy if we don't make our own steel." | "Steel is a strategic industry for the UK - we can't imagine being a major industrial economy if we don't make our own steel." |
| The first minister said he was prepared to add to the £60m package of support being offered by the Welsh government to potential buyers. | The first minister said he was prepared to add to the £60m package of support being offered by the Welsh government to potential buyers. |
| But he added: "We don't have the resources of the UK government - their resources are far bigger than ours so there would need to be a substantial package put in place by the UK government as well." | But he added: "We don't have the resources of the UK government - their resources are far bigger than ours so there would need to be a substantial package put in place by the UK government as well." |
| Business Secretary Sajid Javid is due to fly to India later to discuss the sale process with Tata's chairman. | Business Secretary Sajid Javid is due to fly to India later to discuss the sale process with Tata's chairman. |
| Beforehand, Mr Javid is due to meet union representatives, when he will be urged to back their plan for the future of the Tata sites. | Beforehand, Mr Javid is due to meet union representatives, when he will be urged to back their plan for the future of the Tata sites. |
| Tata has plants in Wales at Port Talbot, Llanwern and Orb in Newport, Shotton in Flintshire and Trostre in Llanelli. The company also has sites in England, including Scunthorpe, Rotherham and Corby. | Tata has plants in Wales at Port Talbot, Llanwern and Orb in Newport, Shotton in Flintshire and Trostre in Llanelli. The company also has sites in England, including Scunthorpe, Rotherham and Corby. |
| Mr Javid, who has faced criticism for his handling of the issue, said he held "productive" talks with Tata executives on Monday, saying that progress had been made. | Mr Javid, who has faced criticism for his handling of the issue, said he held "productive" talks with Tata executives on Monday, saying that progress had been made. |
| He attended the London meeting between Mr Jones and Mr Cameron, along with Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns and Chancellor George Osborne. | He attended the London meeting between Mr Jones and Mr Cameron, along with Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns and Chancellor George Osborne. |
| Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said their presence showed "just how seriously the UK government are taking this matter". | |
| "The steel industry is vital to Wales, and to the UK, and it is important that we all work together to secure its long term, viable future," he added. | |
| "The industry cannot be allowed to fail." | |
| UK steel crisis | UK steel crisis |
| Tata suitor claims he can save jobs | Tata suitor claims he can save jobs |
| Who might buy Tata in Port Talbot? | Who might buy Tata in Port Talbot? |
| What's going wrong with Britain's steel industry? | What's going wrong with Britain's steel industry? |
| Tata Steel UK: What are the options? | Tata Steel UK: What are the options? |
| Is China to blame for steel woes? | Is China to blame for steel woes? |
| 'Very encouraging' | 'Very encouraging' |
| Speaking before the meeting, Mr Cameron said: "We remain fully focused on finding a buyer to run the steelworks and today's meeting is an opportunity to discuss what needs to be done to make this prospect as attractive as possible to investors." | Speaking before the meeting, Mr Cameron said: "We remain fully focused on finding a buyer to run the steelworks and today's meeting is an opportunity to discuss what needs to be done to make this prospect as attractive as possible to investors." |
| AMs meeting to discuss the steel crisis on Tuesday were warned by Tim Morris, head of external affairs for Tata Steel Europe, that the sale process "can't go on forever" but the firm was "committed to acting responsibly" to find a buyer. | |
| The enterprise and business committee is also due to take evidence from Economy Minister Edwina Hart, union leaders, and Cardiff-based Celsa Steel. | |
| Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has called for the government to assist with Tata's pension liabilities. | Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has called for the government to assist with Tata's pension liabilities. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There has to be some government intervention, directly or indirectly, to lighten the burden of the pension liability with any new buyer." | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There has to be some government intervention, directly or indirectly, to lighten the burden of the pension liability with any new buyer." |
| Tata had a long-term future if the issue of cheap Chinese steel imports were addressed, he said, and it was "legitimate" for the government "to step in to help" as it had done with pension liabilities at Royal Mail. | Tata had a long-term future if the issue of cheap Chinese steel imports were addressed, he said, and it was "legitimate" for the government "to step in to help" as it had done with pension liabilities at Royal Mail. |
| Last week, Mr Cameron said the UK government was working to save thousands of steel jobs but warned there was "no guarantees of success". He also said nationalisation was not the right answer. | Last week, Mr Cameron said the UK government was working to save thousands of steel jobs but warned there was "no guarantees of success". He also said nationalisation was not the right answer. |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused the Conservatives of having an "ideological allergy to public ownership". | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused the Conservatives of having an "ideological allergy to public ownership". |
| The union plan involves securing the customer base by guaranteeing production at Tata sites, not allowing Tata or other buyers to "cherry pick" parts of the business, and offering government support for two to three years while the industry gets "back to self-sustainability". | The union plan involves securing the customer base by guaranteeing production at Tata sites, not allowing Tata or other buyers to "cherry pick" parts of the business, and offering government support for two to three years while the industry gets "back to self-sustainability". |
| Potential buyer Sanjeev Gupta, head of the Liberty Group, said on Monday he could take over all of the business without mass job losses. | Potential buyer Sanjeev Gupta, head of the Liberty Group, said on Monday he could take over all of the business without mass job losses. |
| He said he had "very encouraging" talks with the UK government but there was still a lot of work to do. | He said he had "very encouraging" talks with the UK government but there was still a lot of work to do. |