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

The total funding for the transition includes £80 million from the UK government and £20 million from Tata to coordinate support and training opportunities for affected workers.

The community union said: “The revelation that the previous Conservative government did not properly fund the £80 million they promised the Port Talbot transition council is shocking.”

Society’s national spokesman for the steel industry, Alan Davies, said it “shows the previous government’s total disregard for the future of steelworkers and the communities impacted by the deal they struck with Tata.”

Asked to respond to Jo Stevens’ comments, David T.S. Davies, her predecessor as Secretary of State for Wales, said: “The transition council has been fully funded.

“This is an attempt by the Secretary of State to distract attention from the impact the budget will have on small businesses and farms.”

The UK government said: “The new government has made it clear that it has been handed a difficult legacy, with £22 billion unfunded for the year.

“One of these unfunded obligations was the provision of £80 million to the transition board of Tata Steel Port Talbot.

“As of the October 30 budget, the Transition Council is now fully funded and will continue its work to support impacted workers and businesses.”

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