§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the prospects for the steel industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [79847]
§ Mr. HainThe Welsh steel industry is among the most competitive in the world. However, like others, it is experiencing very difficult trading conditions. The industry is therefore taking action to maintain its competitiveness, such as the introduction of new technology and team working. For example, British Steel has recently completed a £121 million investment in a new continuous annealing process line at Port Talbot, which represents the biggest single investment in the industry since privatisation.
The Government are also supporting initiatives aimed at improving the industry's competitiveness. We have provided grant support through the UK Steel Association and Steel Training Ltd. for a range of projects involving benchmarking, education and training.