Community responds to new UK Government funding for Port Talbot

The UK Government is set to announce the immediate release of £13.5 million in funding to support supply chain businesses and workers affected by Tata Steel’s decarbonisation plans.

This first tranche of funding will be confirmed by the Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens at her second meeting as chair of the Port Talbot Transition Board, which will be held later today (Thursday 15 August).

Responding to the news, Community’s National Officer for Steel Alun Davies said:

“We welcome this announcement, which demonstrates that the UK Labour Government is stepping up to provide support both to workers affected by Tata’s decarbonisation plans, and to the wider community in and around Port Talbot. The Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has acted at pace to ensure that this first tranche of funding can be released as swiftly as possible, and we thank her for her steadfast commitment to our steel communities.

“We are also particularly pleased that this announcement includes support for contractors. In our regular meetings with the UK and Welsh Governments, Community reps and officials have stressed that this vital part of the workforce needs to be included in any package of support, and we are glad that both administrations have listened.

“Whilst we welcome this announcement, it is important to stress that our wider position on Tata’s bad deal for steel has not changed. We will continue to oppose the company’s damaging proposals, and we will fight to protect jobs. It remains our firm belief that no compulsory redundancies are necessary, and that an alternative approach is still possible.”