AMs and MPs back Tata
9th October 2012
A delegation of South Wales Labour AMs and MPs and Labour MEP Derek Vaughan have given their full backing to Tata’s commitment to steel making in Wales.
Following a visit to the Tata Steel plant at Port Talbot, Aberavon AM, David Rees, and MP, Hywel Francis, stated on behalf of the delegation,
“We endorse Tata’s vision for the UK Government to commit itself to a long term strategy for manufacturing in Wales and Britain.”
“We agreed as elected Labour representatives that the Tata vision for an industrial policy for the UK must be seriously considered. Such an industrial policy would include a greater degree of influence upon UK supply chains, a level playing field to address energy costs and tax burdens, strategic investments such as high speed rail links, a highly-skilled STEM workforce and anchor company strategies, such as partnerships.”
Dr Francis and Mr Rees added
“We welcome the significant investment already made by Tata into steel making, especially here in Port Talbot, and their commitment to future investment which has been highlighted by the First Minister, Carwyn Jones. We now call upon the UK government actively to support this commitment and put into place the right policies for steel making to grow”
Tata steel is currently completing the £185 million rebuild of Port Talbot steelworks’ No. 4 Blast Furnace and, in addition, investing a further £53 million in an energy recovery project BOS (Basic Oxygen Steelmaking) plant at the site.
