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Corus: North East

Answer

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has spoken to Kirby Adams, chief executive officer of Corus, on a number of occasions about the situation at Teesside Cast Products. In addition, officials have held ongoing discussions with the company to explore ways in which the Government can help resolve the dispute with the partners to the 10-year off-take agreement in a way that avoids job losses.We have urged Corus and, through our embassies overseas, the Consortia to keep working together to resolve their differences and reach a satisfactory solution that avoids redundancies. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills has also spoken direct to Corus and Marcegaglia (the Italian member of the Consortia) and as a result we understand that a meeting between Corus and Consortia members will take place soon at which Corus will present a proposal for a new contract and new commercial terms to replace the old agreement.As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated in the House on 13 May, the Government stands ready to do whatever they can to support the company. We are not prepared to reconcile ourselves to the inevitable closure of this plant.In addition, the Government have offered the company £5 million training support, some of which could be used in the North East to train the work force, retain capacity in the UK, and help the company through the downturn and to recover more strongly in the upturn. This offer is a signal of the Government's commitment to Corus and its work force.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

496 c1696W; 282795

Session

2008-09

Subjects

North East Corus

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk