Labour has demanded answers from the SNP Government over the future of Scotland’s last remaining steel workers.
Production at the Dalzell steelworks in Motherwell, the UK’s last plate mill, has been halted temporarily.
This has led to 140 staff being furloughed or moved to maintenance duties, reports the Daily Record.
READ MORE: Major city centre road reopens after being closed for weeks
The Clydebridge plant near Cambuslang has been mothballed and is currently being marketed for sale.
Both steel mills, along with the Lochaber aluminium smelter near Fort William, are controlled by the GFG Alliance, which is run by Indian metals tycoon Sanjeev Gupta.
Scottish Labour is pushing for a ministerial statement when Holyrood returns from recess next week.
Daniel Johnson, Labour’s economy spokesman, said: "This week we have seen urgent and decisive action from the UK Labour government to protect steel production in the UK – but in Scotland the SNP has taken a vow of silence on steel and it’s time for them to come clean about what is happening in Lanarkshire and Lochaber.
"The UK Government taking an active role in protecting the UK’s last blast furnace creates an opportunity for Dalzell in the long term.
"Scottish steel can have a bright future given the manufacturing needs in the energy and defence sectors – we can protect and create good paying jobs for Scotland.
"But instead, there are serious questions to answer about the nature of the deal the Scottish Government brokered with Liberty House, and what steps they are making to support Scottish steel and restarting the plant at Dalzell.
"These questions need to be addressed urgently – it’s not right for the SNP to walk by on the other side while Scottish workers sit at home, and Chinese, Polish and Turkish steel is used for Scottish infrastructure projects."
READ MORE: Southside venue cancels petting zoo amid community concerns
The business supremo Sanjeev Gupta acquired the Dalzell and Clydebridge mills in 2017, with the help of a £7 million loan from the Scottish Government to his Liberty Steel Group.
Gupta is now facing legal claims from creditors and a criminal prosecution for failing to file accounts on time.
READ MORE: Glasgow man slapped with £2000 fine after caught dumping rubbish in broad daylight
Ross Clark, the Community trade union convener at Dalzell, said: "The workforce are nervous about the current situation of the UK steel industry.
"But we have taken some heart from the Steel Bill passed by MPs last week, as Scunthorpe is a supplier to Dalzell.
"We would like to see this to be a success so we can see our supply restored."
A recent report by Community highlighted that Dalzell needs investment to become a "world-leading producer" of a key component for offshore wind turbines.
Union leaders have described the site as being of "huge strategic importance and potential" for supplying materials to the offshore wind sector.
A GFG Alliance spokesperson said: "Structural challenges in the UK steel industry, including cut-price imports from countries with less stringent environmental standards, mean we are operating Dalzell intermittently to serve high-value customers.
"We will continue this policy and will continue to fulfil all customer orders, with production ramping up when market conditions allow.
"We are pushing for relevant authorities to investigate potential steel dumping, which represents a significant injury risk to the industry.”
The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
Share