29/03/2016 BBC Wales Today

The future of steel making in Port Talbot hangs

Thousands of miles away at Tata headquarters in India the board

is deciding the Welsh plant's future.

Everybody is very worried. Morale is down but people are up for the

We think we can succeed if we get some backing.

Tonight we're in India watching Port Talbot's fate unfold.

I have been speaking to a representative. They are

tight-lipped about the meeting and unwilling to confirm if we will have

a decision on the fate of Port Talbot today.

And I'm at the steelworks, where workers are fighting

The school trip from Blaenau Gwent caught up that shooting

Tonight an anxious mum's praise for the teachers.

I can't wait for them to come home to thank them for everything they've

And do you struggle getting an appointment to see you doctor ?

The groundbreaking experiment in Prestatyn offering GPs and other

It's the biggest steel plant in Britain and tonight the entire

workforce of 4,000, along with many more thousands of jobs which depend

upon it, are waiting to know if Port Talbot steelworks

Its owners, Tata, have been meeting in Mumbai to consider

whether to continue investing in the plant, which is losing

a ?1 million a day or cut their losses.

Tonight, we'll take you to India for the latest there,

but we begin in Port Talbot where our Business Correspondent,

It's dominated the Port Talbot skyline for generations, but the

fate of the steelworks won't be decided here. The Tata board are

meeting for the half thousand miles away in on by. They will have to

decide whether to support a survival plan for forward in Port Talbot. One

of the delegates who travels to India gave us his reaction.

We are in the dark. The Tata board, as I understand it, are still

meeting. We are waiting for a representative to come to the Hotel

to speak to us. We have had no contact with them since meeting

yesterday. We made the case for the fantastic

workforce we have in Port Talbot that always delivers whatever it's

asked to deliver. We left it at that. It was left them

with an agreement that we would have another meeting after the board

meeting to make. Tata pays more than 100 million

pounds a year in salaries in Wales. ?750 -- jobs are going at the site.

Everybody is very worried. Morale is down. People are left for the fight.

They think they can succeed if they get some backing behind us.

Some of the biggest departments as Port Talbot includes steel and slab,

with 641 people are employed. 473 work in Ireland. 453 are in

engineering. That is the worst hit section in the current round of

redundancies with 40% of staff at risk.

Tata has invested heavily in Port Talbot but the current plan calls

for an extra ?100 million of investment.

As with any big monthly national company there is competition within

it for different parts of the business that wants extra funding.

Concern is that with Port Talbot losing ?1 million a day, the boards

in Mumbai might decide that enough is enough and refuse that extra

investment. Save our steel! The Chief Executive

of Tata Europe marched through Brussels with workers demanding that

the EU take action to stop cheap Chinese steel folding into Europe.

It's not only about the jobs at the steelworks, further redundancies

here will also have a huge impact across the wider economy.

Port Talbot steel workers are relatively well-paid, so if people

were to lose their jobs it's not going to be easy for them to find

similar employment of the same salary. That takes purchasing power

out of the local economy. Unions also want more to be done

about the UK and Welsh government energy costs on business rates.

We are determined to continue working with Tata to do everything

possible to secure the longer term interests, strategic interest of the

UK and protect and preserve as many jobs as possible.

If Tata decide not to back the planet leaves Port Talbot with an

uncertain future, the hope is that it won't mean steel-making vanishing

for blood. -- for good. We'll be live in Port

Talbot in just a moment. But first let me take you to Mumbai,

in India, where Tata's board has been meeting and where that

delegation from Wales, including steel workers,

the Community Union and the local MP Stephen Kinnock have

also met Tata officials. The BBC's Mumbai Correspondent,

Yogita Limaye, has been It's a difficult decision

that the Tata group have I've been speaking to

a representative through the day. They have been in evasive

and tight-lipped and will not confirm whether or not

we were have a decision on the fate We've also been speaking

to a delegation from Wales That's delegation includes members

of the steel worker union They expect to meet a senior board

member from Tata to find out It has been a difficult

decision for the Tata group, they have been seeing one

of the reasons why the businesses in the UK are suffering

is because of cheap Chinese imports. They can't match the price

the Chinese are selling this steel. One of the reasons why they say it's

expensive to produce steel in the UK is because of the regulatory costs

and higher electricity cost. The Port Talbot plant has been

losing an estimated ?1 million, or $1.4 million every

day over the past year. That's why there are fears

that they might decide to close down The union, however, is hoping

that the company will That plan comes at a cost,

there will be job losses, 750 jobs will be cut at Port Talbot,

but at least the plant will remain open and that means the bulk

of the 4000 workers there So that's the picture in India

where Tata's owners are based. Let me take you to Port Talbot now,

and our Business Correspondent, Brian.

Let's talk to two people who are watching and waiting for that

decision to come from Mumbai. Barry Evans is a steel worker here, you

also represent the community union and Tony Taylor, URA councillor and

former steelworker. Barry, how sure are you that you can convince Tata

of the need to go ahead with this plan as it is?

Obviously, it's been backed and supported by independent experts.

We believe in the workforce. We back the plan, we just hope we get the

board's support today. It is a huge impact on the local

community, these are well-paid jobs and the people put a lot of money

into the local economy? That is correct. They've is no plan

B. I keep reiterating all the time you are talking about 15,000 jobs,

it's not going to be soaked up by the local community. They will be

suffering, small shops closing and further deprivation.

It will decimate Port Talbot. What about that idea of there is no plan

B? If they turn around tonight and say they don't accept the proposal,

what next? Obviously, that is the worst-case

scenario. We have two remain optimistic and hopefully will

support us. They've been supportive up until now. Have faith in us, and

we will repay them. We need support from the Welsh government,

Westminster, and the UB and government as well.

Are you satisfied with this sport you're getting?

Not at all. The Welsh government should be doing a lot more.

Westminster are making the right noises but doing nothing. I'm

disappointed in our UPN MEPs. They should be backing the steel industry

they should be dumping Chinese steel and subsidising energy prices. When

you look at that plant it uses the same amount of energy as a city the

size of Cardiff or Bristol. The least they can do is give us a bit

of help. Both the Welsh government and UK

Government has said they are committed to tartar and Port Talbot

and want to try and make it work. We have a lot more on this urbanite

including in the late bulletin. Back to you, Jamie.

Tributes have been paid to a five-year-old boy who died

Five-year- old Ned Jones, from Capel Bangor near Aberystwyth,

and 77-year-old Margaretta Jones were among four people who died

in the crash on the A470 in Powys on Friday.

The Headteacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth,

where Ned Jones was a pupil, described him as a "dear

The Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash.

Home owners will have to pay an average of ?47 more in council

New powers allowing the Welsh Government to borrow

millions of pounds to fund investment should be spent

on building new houses, rather than on a new motorway south

of Newport according to the Liberal Democrats.

By 2018, Welsh Ministers will be able to borrow up to ?500 million.

Labour wants spend some of this on a new M4 relief road.

But Welsh Lib Dem leader, Kirsty Williams, says its priorities

Parents in Blaenau Gwent have praised teachers at a local high

school after pupils were caught up in a shooting

No one from Tredegar Comprehensive was hurt, but one mother who spoke

to her daughter during the incident says teachers were instrumental

in helping to calm anxious loved ones.

A man with a gun tries to enter the famous white

Teenagers from Tredegar comprehensive were inside

On the phone to her mum as shots were fired yesterday,

recalling what happens again this afternoon.

The police were running past us shouting things like 'Get out

of the way' and stuff like that.

Then one came back and said we need to hide in this room.

For her mum it' s been an emotional couple of days.

We put her on loudspeakers so we could all speak to her.

Thinking she would tell us what sort of day she'd had.

It wasn't the reaction I was hoping for when I answered the phone.

She screams down the phone, saying that some man has a gun.

No one from the school was hurt, the gunman is now in hospital

The school has since posted photos of people's continuing their history

Nothing can stop them according to one Facebook post.

Parents are full of praise for teachers.

The teacher I spoke to was reassuring, she was calm

If she is calm, the kids are calm as well.

I'm sure all the parents appreciate everything that they've done.

I really can't wait for them to come home to thank them

Chelsea's Brother, Kyle had this message for his sister

It was never likely to be a mistake any of them would forget,

mums and dads still anxiously waiting to see them

Do you struggle getting an appointment to see your doctor ?

The groundbreaking experiment in Prestatyn offering GP

And despite defeat a couple of players stake a claim to be

in Chris Coleman's Wales squad for this summer's tournament.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage says the funding Wales gets from Brussels

would be available from Westminster if Britain left the EU.

Tonight in Newport he'll be addressing a rally as part

of the campaign for a Leave vote at June's referendum.

Before the event, Mr Farage distanced himself from a UKIP

assembly candidate who has linked a rubbish problem in part of Cardiff

As part of a series of extended interviews.

from both sides of the debate, he spoke to our political

Another busy day at the medical centre, it has 18,000 patients on

its books and along with smaller practices in the area is ending its

contact with the health board at the end of the week. It is because of a

failure to replace MPs retiring. There are no doctors coming through.

There is no foreseeable way to bring doctors in. When you look at those

factors you've got to remodel. They are hoping as we are that this new

model will work. My sincere apologies, that is the

wrong film. I'm going to tell you a little bit about that now. It is

about whether you have trouble getting to see your doctor. In

Prestatyn they will be a new approach to primary health care.

Betsi Cadwaladr Healthboard will transfer services to Ahab in the

town, the former council building, it will be run by the health board

following the decision by two of the town's practices to close.

following the decision by two of the Richards has that report.

Another busy day at the medical centre, it has 18,000 patients

on its books and along with smaller practices in the area

is ending its contact with the health board at the end

It is because of a failure to replace GPs will retire.

There is no foreseeable way to bring doctors in.

When you look at those factors you've got to remodel.

They are hoping as we are that this new

This building will eventually replace the existing GP surgery in

Prestatyn. Until then the health board is trying a new system to

reduce pressure on doctors and meaning patients get seen more

quickly. The solution they have come up with

is based on a system pioneered in Alaska and parts of London,

assigning patients to a team of health care specialists instead of

one doctor. We've assigned patients in Prestatyn

two teams, each team contains the professionals you would previously

have seen in primary care like GB 's, practice nurses, but some new

roles like occupational therapists and a stronger input from

pharmacists. As well as social care and prescribing professionals who

can help us. We are not just focusing on tablets, but on the

person. Whatever the reason for the change,

existing patient support is optimistic, although the transition

period is causing problems with appointments.

You can't make appointments until next week. Basically, the turnover,

nothing is occurring. Is that frustrating was my great is

at the moment, yeah. You just want to see the doctors or nurses, two

can't do anything. It's going to be wonderful. We're

going to have doctors, nurses, triage nurses, everything.

You bet on appointment the same day. You think it will be a better

system? Yes. Today the council agreed to

lease the building to the health board. They will move here by the

end of the year. Now I take you back to Nigel Farage who says that the

funding Wales get from Brussels would be available from Westminster

if written left the European Union. Tonight he is addressing a rally in

Newport. Before the event, Mr Farage distant himself from a Ukip Assembly

candidate who was link to rubbish problems in Cardiff to immigration.

Nigel Farage book to Daniel Davies. Mr Farage, a few weeks ago we here

at Romney Prime Minister saying that if the UK were outside the EU they

would be no guarantee that Wales would get the billions of pounds he

has in funding. He is right about that, isn't he?

What the Prime Minister forgets is that money that comes to Britain

from the European Union is our money. Half of it gets lost between

going to Brussels on coming back. Some of the arguments that have been

put by David Cameron, and indeed Carwyn Jones, Mr Jones suggested

that agriculture would cease if we were not members of the European

Union. The fact is Welsh agriculture has been going on for thousands of

years and was waving before the Common market, exactly as it will do

after. But that doesn't answer the

question. You can't give a guarantee about that money that has been spent

training people in the Welsh workforce infrastructure, all over

Wales, subsidies to farmers, you can't guarantee... Subsidies are

completely guaranteed. We would be a self-governing nation. We spent ?6

million a year on agriculture subsidy. 3 billion of it is spent

mostly in France! Do you have two adapt your message

in any way to convince Wales specifically to vote for you?

You compare what I said tonight to what I said in the rest of the UK.

Belfast, London, it's the same everywhere. The one difference

night, here in Wales, is that they will speak about steel. I will talk

about the fact that expensive energy, initiative started in the

European Union, and picked up and made worse by the British government

has damaged steel and heavy manufacturing in this country.

Let me ask you about your campaign for the Assembly election. Is Gareth

Bennett going to be a candidate in that election?

I am the leader of the party. I have nothing to do with candidate

selections. My job is to chart a political path forward. All I can

say is the utterances I have seen that of an individual, he doesn't

look to me to be the kind of person we would be proud of in a few weeks'

time. So what happens next's don't ask me,

Ukip has its own... You must be able to see what the

procedure is. If you want to interview the party

chairman or those who deal with selection you are free to do so. As

leader I have nothing to do with that but unless I'm impressed with

what I have seen. Let's get tonight's

sport now, here's Tomos. Football, and the Wales manager,

Chris Coleman, says his side's preparations for Euro 2016 won't be

undermined by their recent results. Last night's 1-nil defeat in Ukraine

means Wales have won only one But Coleman believes

those results have masked Yesterday's game was Coleman's last

before he names his squad Between now and the end of the

season the guys will be doing their best to play as well as they can,

keep as fit as they can for their clubs.

We hope and pray they stay fit. We will take the 23 that we choose from

So a busy time ahead for Chris Coleman and his staff,

he has around eight weeks until he has to name his squad

The players will gather again in May, and there are important

dates for Wales fans to look out for.

June the 1st, the deadline for Chris Coleman to name the 23 players that

will be spearheading Wales's challenge in France. He hopes they

will emerge for the season fit and ready. Gareth Balliol could be in

action for real Madrid as late as May 28. The one that will be in

Stockholm, against Sweden. Just six days before Wales's opening game.

The squad will then head to Brittany, Wales will play three

games across France, Bordeaux, best known for its wine. This is where

Wales will start their campaign against the bacteria on June 11. --

against Slovakia. Next to Toulon, its entire population won't fill a

stadium, capacity, 38,000, the venue for Wales versus England. Four days

later, Chris Coleman's players backed by an army of fans will head

south to Toulouse, for their final group game against Russia. The aim

is to get their hands on this, a trophy that was in Cardiff yesterday

with Ian Rush. The first game is vital. Don't lose

the first game. They'll go into every game full of confidence. I've

got a strong feeling that this is a wide open and. We've got a good

defence, teams will be playing Wales.

There are busy weeks ahead, plans would be fine-tuned and players will

Plenty to ponder between now and the summer.

Coleman will be doing his homework tonight, as all three of Wales'

group opponents are playing in friendlies.

Other news, and the Rugby Players' Association says the England prop

Joe Marler has been 'hung out to dry in an excruciating media witch hunt'

for comments he made towards Wales' Samson Lee at Twickenham

Having initially avoided punishment Marler is to face

The Rugby Players' Association say Marler is not racially motivated

and say the matter should have been closed three weeks ago.

Time for the weather forecast with Sue.

Thanks very much. We had heavy downpours at times today. Hill snow

as well mixed in, but the Show was ease tomorrow and more in the way of

sunshine for most of Wales. Tonight, some dry spells but scattered

showers. Wintry with snow in the hills, some frost patches in rural

spots in North and mid Wales, temperatures hover above freezing. A

dry yet more cycles date tomorrow with lighter winds. A few showers

around, wintry with a hail risk but wind easing and turning drier and

brighter through the day. Lighter westerly winds, top temperatures of

eight Celsius and ten in Cardiff. We see the odd wintry show tomorrow,

but dry with lighter winds. Temperatures will drop away, subzero

across mid Wales with overnight frosts into Thursday. A cold start

but Thursday looks like a springlike day for Wales, sunny spells,

variable cloud and small chance of a shower. Five of eight to 11 Celsius.

A brief ridge of high pressure is keeping things quiet and settled,

but another weather system will push in from the Atlantic on Friday. It

could be a dry start, but turning cloudy and windy from the north-west

with rain possible. Then it looks like that front should recede to

leave a dry year, slightly warmer day on Saturday, but after heavy

rain at times some improvements tomorrow and Thursday. Today's

picture is from Martin Rees, threatening globes in the Brecon

Beacons. -- threatening clouds. You can send your photos via e-mail or

Twitter. You could also become one of our weather watchers. Back to

you, Jamie. And tonight's headlines, there is still no official word from

the Tata board about whether they will accept a rescue plan put

forward for the steelworks in Port Talbot. More than 700 workers will

lose their jobs, it would safeguard thousands more.

You are not automatically or 4000, you are talking 15,000 jobs. It

won't be soaked up by the local economy, there is going to be

suffering. You will have small shops closing and further deprivation. It

The last word tonight from Port Talbot, and our

Business Correspondent, Brian Meechan.

Tata is in a very difficult situation, they have invested a lot

of money and are being asked for more money and more time but it's

not getting any of the movement in energy costs or Chinese steel. It's

a difficult situation, and the question is, have they finally run

out of patience? We will discover that, potentially, tonight.

We will discover that, potentially, tonight.

I'll have an update for you here at 8pm,

That's Wales Today, thank you for watching from all of us