Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Secretary of State for Wales’s oral contribution of 23 January 2024 during the debate on Protecting Steel in the UK, Official Report, column 265, whether her Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned an independent assessment of the potential merits of the multi-union plan for steel production at Port Talbot.

Tata Steel are now conducting a formal consultation period with staff regarding the company’s proposed £1.25 billion pound project to transition to greener steelmaking at Port Talbot.

Prior to this, Tata Steel have been discussing Union’s alternative proposals with them for several months. Ultimately, this is a commercial decision for Tata Steel and engagement with trade unions has always been a process that must be led by the employer.

We are working with Tata Steel to provide up to £100 million pounds funding for a dedicated Transition Board, which includes members from the Welsh Government, to support both affected employees and the local economy.