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William and Kate raise UK steel crisis with Indian PM

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have discussed "the pressures facing steel manufacturers in the UK and India" with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources have told the Press Association.

The royal couple spoke to Mr Modi during a lunch meeting, as they continued their tour of India.

It comes as an emergency debate on the steel crisis is held in the Commons.

Shadow Business Secretary Angela Eagle accused the government of "indifference and incompetence" in dealing with the crisis, and an "ideologically driven reluctance to get involved as the crisis has deepened".

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Tata Steel sale saves 4,400 British jobs

The sale of a huge Tata steelworks has been confirmed Credit: PA

The sale of a huge Tata steelworks has been confirmed, safeguarding 4,400 UK jobs.

The Indian conglomerate announced the signing of an agreement to sell its Long Products Europe business, including its plant in Scunthorpe, to investment firm Greybull Capital.

The sale of Tata Steel's Long Products Europe business covers several UK-based assets including:

  • Scunthorpe steelworks
  • Teesside Beam Mill, Lackenby
  • Special Profiles, Skinningrove
  • Engineering workshop, Workington
  • Design consultancy, York
  • Associated distribution facilities in the UK and Ireland
  • Hayange Rail Mill, north east France

The deal will be completed once a number of outstanding conditions have been resolved, including transfer of contracts, certain government approvals and the satisfactory completion of financing arrangements.

The Long Products Europe business employs 4,800 people - 4,400 in the UK and 400 in France.

Under these current challenging market conditions in Europe with the soaring levels of imports from China, we are happy that Tata Steel UK and Greybull Capital have entered the final stage of completion of the sale of shareholding in Longs Steel UK.

This transaction will offer a future for the Long Products Europe business and its 4,400 employees in the UK.

– Hans Fischer, chief executive of Tata Steel's European operations

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