Saturday, November 23, 2024

Tata Steel: £80m pot for workers was left ‘unfunded’ – minister

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The total transition funding includes £80m from the UK government and £20m from Tata to co-ordinate support and training opportunities for affected workers.

Community union said: “The revelation that the previous Conservative government had not properly allocated funding for the £80m they promised to the transition board at Port Talbot is shocking.”

Community’s national officer for steel, Alun Davies, said it “speaks to the previous government’s total disregard for the future of the steelworkers and communities impacted by the deal they struck with Tata”.

Asked to respond to Jo Stevens’ comments, David TC Davies, her predecessor as secretary of state for Wales said: “The transition board was fully funded.

“This is an attempt by the secretary of state to divert attention away from the impact the Budget is going to have on small businesses and farms.”

The UK government said: “The new government has been clear it was handed a challenging inheritance, with £22 billion of unfunded in-year spending pressures.

“One of these unfunded commitments was £80m for the Tata Steel Port Talbot Transition Board.

“Following the 30 October Budget, the Transition Board is now fully funded and will continue its work to support workers and businesses affected.”

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