The National Assembly’s Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee is holding a meeting to look at developments in the steel industry on Wednesday 19 October at the Senedd in Cardiff.
Ahead of the meeting – which will include evidence sessions from steel bosses, employers’ unions and First Minister Carwyn Jones AM – the Chair of the Committee Russell George AM, said:
“At the start of this year, the future of steel in Wales was one of the most prominent issues in Welsh politics. In April, less than a month before the Welsh election, the Assembly was even recalled during recess to discuss developments in the steel industry.
“Since the election, there has been a marked drop in public discussion of the industry. As a committee we were keen to shine a light on what has happened since then, and whether the urgency and spirit of cooperation that characterised the initial reaction to job losses at Tata Steel in Port Talbot has continued.
“Today’s meeting will hear from the employers, employees and First Minister Carwyn Jones. The committee has also written detailed questions to UK Government Minister Nick Hurd to hear how he is taking on the issues, since he became the Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry.
“Steel remains a vital component of Wales’ economy, and following the appointment of a new Government in Cardiff Bay and new Ministers in Westminster over the summer, the committee wants to ensure that momentum has not been lost. Our predecessors on the Enterprise and Business Committee called for concerted action on energy costs, business rates, procurement, tariffs on foreign steel – I look forward to exploring whether action has been delivered, and whether it has been sufficient to provide some medium term certainty to the industry.”
The Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee will meet at 9.20 in Committee Room 3 of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
Agenda for the Committee meeting.
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