Government under fire as another 1,000 steel jobs are lost

A ROW over how much support the UK Government has given the crisis-hit steel industry is raging after another 1,000 jobs were axed in a devastating blow to steel-making communities.

Indian-owned Tata confirmed workers’ fears when they unveiled plans to cut 750 posts at the Port Talbot plant in South Wales, 200 in support functions and 100 at steel mills, affecting Llanwern, Trostre, Corby and Hartlepool.

Almost 5,000 job losses have now been announced in the steel industry since last summer as firms struggle with high energy costs, business rates and cheap Chinese imports.

Previously announced cuts include 2,200 at Redcar (SSI), 900 at Scunthorpe (Tata), 450 at various locations (Caparo), 225 at Dalzell (Tata) and 45 at Clydebridge (Tata).

Karl Koehler, chief executive of Tata Steel’s European operations, said: “I know this news will be unsettling for all those affected, but these tough actions are critical in the face of extremely difficult market conditions which are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

“We need the European Commission to accelerate its response to unfairly traded imports and increase the robustness of its actions. Not doing so threatens the future of the entire European steel industry.”

The Government came under attack from unions and Labour for doing “too little, too late”, and offering merely “warm words”, but ministers defended their action in supporting the industry.

Prime Minister David Cameron said there was a worldwide glut and over-production of steel, affecting countries around the world.