Liz Saville Roberts called on UK Government to stand up for Welsh steel

During Wales Questions today (Wednesday 17 June) Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP urged the Wales Office to "stand up for Welsh interests" and called for the UK Government's Steel Fund to be ringfenced to "guarantee a fair share of the Steel Fund to all steel sites in Wales".

Anna McMorrin, a Minister in the Wales Office, refused to guarantee that Welsh steel sites would receive its fair share from the UK Government's £2.5 billion Steel Fund.

Ms Saville Roberts explained that a major fire that recently broke out at the steelworks in Port Talbot cause substantial damage but claimed that not a single penny of Labour's £2.5 billion Steel Fund which aims to support steel sites to transition to green steelmaking, had been guaranteed for Port Talbot or any other steel site in Wales.

The party's Westminster leader also said that while millions were being spent to support steel at Scunthorpe, Wales received nothing.

In 2024, the Labour UK Government committed to investing £500 million for the Electric Arc Furnace at Port Talbot Steelworks, but this is entirely separate from the Steel Fund, of which nothing has been committed.

Ms Saville Roberts MP accused the Minister of "muddying the waters" in her answer.

Speaking in the chamber, Liz Saville Roberts said:

"The Port Talbot steelworks fire caused huge damage but not a single penny of Labour's two and a half billion-pound Steel Fund has been guaranteed for steel in Wales.

"Instead, millions are being spent from this fund to support steel at Scunthorpe, leaving Welsh workers fearing they're being pushed aside.

"So will her Government stand up for Welsh interests and guarantee a fair share of the Steel Fund to all steel sites in Wales?"

In her response, Wales Office Minister, Anna McMorrin said:

"Our steel strategy will revitalise the UK steel sector, restoring domestic production, 50% of which will come from Wales, securing supply for key sectors and national infrastructure and I really hope that the minority Plaid Welsh Government will support this work in supporting our Welsh steelworkers."

Responding to the Minister in the House of Commons, Ms Saville Roberts said:

"Interested to hear the Minister's response but she's muddying the waters here because that isn't in relation to the Steel Fund. What we're talking about here is specifically the Steel Fund and the contribution that that will make to Wales, and we know that money is going towards Scunthorpe."