UK steel industry crisis: PM reiterates support for Tata
The Prime Minister said he is committed to helping to save Tata Steel's under threat UK business as he visited the firm's Port Talbot plant for discussions over the crisis gripping the steel industry.
David Cameron met with management, union leaders and the Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns yesterday at the sprawling site, which employs 4,000 and represents Tata's biggest UK plant.
The firm also employs hundreds of workers at four sites in the Black Country, most of whom work at the Tata Steelpark in Wednesfield.
During the meeting Mr Cameron reiterated the Government's pledge that it would consider taking a stake in any rescue operation for the firm's loss-making UK businesses, which are up for sale.
Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of of the steelworkers union Community, said: "We welcome the Prime Minister's visit to Port Talbot. As soon as I returned from the Tata board meeting in Mumbai, I asked him to meet and I am pleased he has now taken the time to do so.
"In recent weeks I have been speaking regularly with the Business Secretary and have secured commitments from government that will build some confidence in Tata Steel's customers, suppliers and potential investors.
"The joint announcement by the UK and Welsh governments last week, including the proposal to take up to a 25 per cent stake in the business, was a big step forward and it was good to hear the Prime Minister reiterate that commitment today.
"David Cameron has now joined the growing list of senior politicians who have visited Port Talbot, but today we made it clear that steelworks throughout England and Wales are also under threat. This is a national industrial crisis and the Prime Minister needs to act nationally and indeed globally to secure a sustainable future for the UK steel industry.
"Steelworkers will now be watching and waiting for the Prime Minister to match his words with real action. We need immediate action to save the industry but also a long term plan to give UK steel making a fair chance to compete.
"The Prime Minister has now seen first-hand the great blast furnaces of Port Talbot, both of which will be vital to any future success of the business."
Meanwhile the Midlands Steel Task Group has warned that major trade credit insurers are withdrawing cover for supplies to Tata, presenting 'a fresh hurdle' to plans to stabilise in the UK steel sector.
The group's chair Bhanu Dhir, has called on the Government to hold talks with the main credit insurers 'to facilitate continued cover'.
