North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to support Shotton’s Tata Steel by adopting the Charter for British Sustainable Steel.
Responding to this week’s Statement by the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport on job losses at Tata Steel, which made reference to Tata Steel’s Shotton plant, Mr Isherwood called for assurance that there had been no suggestion in the announcement of job losses at Tata Steel of job losses at the Shotton site, and asked the Minister what action the Welsh Government is taking to adopt the Charter.
He said:
“Last March, I supported and spoke in an individual Member’s debate on the steel industry in Wales, noting the economic contribution of the industry, the jobs it supports, regretting the overseas imports flooding the market, which created an uneven playing field, and calling for the Welsh Government to adopt the Charter for British Sustainable Steel, which will see all Government procurement of carbon steel rebar meeting the BSE 6001 responsible sourcing standard.
“Your statement says you’re supportive of the principles of the British Sustainable Steel Charter and that you’re reviewing the model contract for major transport projects to ensure the standard is considered. But that’s somewhat short of adoption, although that motion was passed without any opposition. Therefore, what action is the Welsh Government taking to adopt that Charter? Or can you share with us any legal or other barriers that might prevent full adoption at a devolved level?”
Mr Isherwood added:
“Secondly and finally, the UK Business Secretary called for the EU talks on the steel industry crisis held last November, which led to commitments to speed up the European Commission’s work on unfair trade practices and to ensure the effectiveness of state-aid rules. However, the EU council and European Commission failed to grasp the urgent need for measures to better protect steel producers from the dumping of cheap steel. Following that summit in November, what direct communication has the Welsh Government had with the European Commission regarding that specific concern, voiced by many at the time, in the industry and the unions?”
The Minister said: “We know what representations are being made in Europe. But I think we need to redouble our efforts by using our Brussels office, et cetera, within Europe, to start having more and more discussions out there. We are doing that currently, but we need to have more.
“With regard to the charter, there was an issue that Jane Hutt looked at. We’ve got it in its reality, but you’re asking about that commitment, and I will have to check what reason was given why we couldn’t do it, because I recall there was something. The reality of what we’ve done is included in our procurement policy the reality of the charter.”