The Sunday Sun reported that Mr David Cameron Prime Minister of Great Britain has held talks with Mr Ratan Tata, Indian tycoon whose company owns the mothballed Corus steel works on Teesside.
Mr Cameron met Mr Tata during a trade mission to India this week for talks that were described as constructive by Downing Street.
A spokesman for No 10 added the meeting covered a range of shared interests and that Mr Cameron stressed the desire to step up business to business links between the two countries.
And while he declined to offer further details, saying it was a private meeting, a senior North Conservative told the Sunday Sun that he would be amazed if the Corus steel works in Redcar was not discussed.
The developments emerged as talks continue between Corus and Thai industrial group SSI about a possible deal over the Teesside Cast Products plant, which was mothballed with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs.
Speaking to The Sunday Sun, Tory peer and former MP Mr Michael Bates said that Mr Cameroon was likely to have raised the issue of the site with Mr Tata. He said that "It has been a big issue between the Indian and UK Governments and I am absolute certain that would have been in the Prime Minister’s briefing. And knowing Mr David Cameron, I know he would reinforce the message that Britain is open for business and that means Corus."
Lord Bates said that nobody expected Mr Tata to be charitable, but that they should sell it to another company with the widely held opinion of local managers, unions and on Teesside that it was a profitable business.
Lord Bates also warned the era of government blank cheque to industries was at an end because there was no money left because of Britain’s debts. But he urged ministers to offer tax breaks, with the coalition already announcing national insurance holidays for new companies setting up locally.
Mr Tom Blenkinsop Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland said that positive talks were continuing between Corus and SSI bosses, but stressed all parties involved had to be given sufficient space in those discussions. He also questioned what the coalition government had done so far to help.
(Sourced from www.sundaysun.co.uk)
