Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Tami Excerpts
Wednesday 13th April 2016

(8 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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My father was a welder at the Port Talbot plant for more than 30 years before he was made redundant several years ago. I am from that community and understand how important the steelworks is to the income of the area. My family has been through the good times when records have been broken and the difficult times when my father, like many others, was made redundant. The Government regularly engage with many of the companies, both suppliers and customers, that work with Tata. We are determined to do everything to support them.

Mark Tami Portrait Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside) (Lab)
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Yesterday, the Business Secretary said we need to work together, cross-party, on this, and the Secretary of State for Wales has just said the same. I understand that he is to visit Shotton on Monday—when was he intending to tell me?

Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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I would have hoped that the hon. Gentleman would be grateful for, or approving of, a visit from a UK Minister to Shotton. I have been responding to the calls from the local workers, but I was in Wrexham on the day that the news broke about Shotton, and I spoke to community leaders and business leaders about the impact. I said to the community, “As soon as more information becomes available, I will return.” That is why I am returning to Shotton next Monday, and I am pleased about it.