§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the action he has taken since the announcement of redundancies at the Brymbo steelworks, Clwyd.
§ Mr. David HuntSince United Engineering Steels' announcement on the 14 May 1990 that Brymbo steelworks was to close, I have met, on several occasions, all the parties involved to discuss the future of the steelworks.
At my request, the Welsh Development Agency made extensive, worldwide efforts, throughout last summer to find a buyer for the site who would continue steelmaking in some form without success.
The Welsh Development Agency is still in consultation with United Engineering Steels over possible future uses for the site.
On 30 October 1990, I announced a support package designed to mitigate the effects of the steelworks closure on the area. The package entails the government matching United Engineering Steel's contribution of £260,000 to the North East Wales training enterprise council pound for pound; an extra urban programme grant of £0.5 million this financial year, as well as the revenue appointment of a Brymbo village liaison and advice worker for three years, and an extra £0.5 million for Wrexham Maelor borough council for its Redwither project as part of its 1991–92 credit approvals announced on 10 December. In addition, the Welsh Development Agency has commenced work on £5.5 million programme of works based at the Wrexham industrial estate which should create job opportunities for 500 people. European regional development fund aid of £2,229,345 has been granted towards projects in the Wrexham travel-to-work area under the Clwyd integrated development operational programme.
I will be meeting again the hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) and representatives of the county and district councils later this week to review the situation and I will be taking further action as and when I consider it necessary.