WELSH CONSERVATIVES have called on the Welsh Government to explain who knew what, and when, about reported delays to Tata Steel’s new electric arc furnace at Port Talbot.

Shadow Economy, Energy and Planning Minister Janet Finch-Saunders MS raised the issue in the Senedd during an emergency statement following the recent fire at the steelworks.

While much of the focus has been on the fire, reports have suggested that separate concerns about delays to the electric arc furnace may have been known for several weeks.

It was reported on June 7 that Tata Steel had discussed potential delays linked to National Grid connectivity issues with “investors” during a conference call around a month earlier.

Mrs Finch-Saunders is now seeking clarity on whether those investors included the UK Government, which is investing £500m towards the £1.25bn project.

The previous UK Conservative Government also established an £80m transition fund to support workers at risk of losing their jobs. The Welsh Conservatives say they want clarification on whether any of that funding remains available if delays create further financial pressure for affected workers.

Mrs Finch-Saunders said: “If UK Government Ministers were aware of the issue a month ago, were Welsh Government Ministers informed?

“If Welsh Government Ministers were not informed, why not? If they were informed, why did the Economy Minister tell the Senedd that he only became aware of the delay on Monday?

“We now need a clear timeline setting out exactly when concerns first emerged and who was told.

“Port Talbot workers and their families deserve answers.”

NEW figures have revealed a sharper fall in Welsh business activity, with firms cutting jobs at the fastest rate since September 2020.

The latest NatWest Wales Growth Tracker showed that while the decline in new orders eased for the second month running, overall output fell more quickly in May as businesses faced higher costs, weaker demand and growing uncertainty.

The headline Wales Business Activity Index fell to 45.8 in May, down from 47.9 in April. Any reading below 50 indicates contraction.

The drop was the sharpest since September 2025 and placed Wales among the weakest-performing UK areas, with only the East Midlands and Northern Ireland recording faster falls in output.

JOB CUTS DEEPEN

Welsh private sector firms also reported a further fall in staffing levels, with the rate of job shedding the steepest in almost six years and the sharpest of all 12 UK nations and regions monitored.

Businesses said lower new order intakes and the higher cost of employment were behind the reduction in headcounts.

Backlogs of work also continued to fall, suggesting weaker demand was allowing firms to clear outstanding orders more quickly.

ORDERS STILL FALLING

New sales fell for the fourth month running, although the rate of decline eased and was only slight.

NatWest said part of the improvement may have reflected temporary stockpiling by customers amid higher prices and supply challenges, rather than a sustained recovery in demand.

Business confidence also weakened, although firms remained generally optimistic that output would rise over the next 12 months.

INFLATION PRESSURE

The report said input costs rose at the sharpest pace since November 2022, driven by higher fuel, energy and material costs.

Welsh firms also increased their selling prices at a faster rate, with charge inflation reaching its highest level for more than a year.

Jessica Shipman, Chair of the NatWest Cymru Board, said: “May data indicated a softer decline in new orders at Welsh firms, however, some of the uplift in the seasonally adjusted New Business Index stemmed from a temporary bout of stockpiling at customers amid higher prices and supply challenges.

“In fact, activity levels dropped at a sharper pace and employment contracted at a rate not seen since September 2020.

“Although still confident of output growth in the coming 12 months, spare capacity and greater uncertainty led firms to lower their expectations for the year-ahead outlook.”

She added that inflationary pressures were continuing to influence business and customer decisions, with the conflict in the Middle East pushing up material, fuel and energy costs.

EXPORT CONDITIONS IMPROVE

There was better news for exporters, with the Wales Export Climate Index rising from 50.7 in April to 51.1 in May.

That signalled the strongest improvement in export conditions for three months, supported by stronger output growth in Ireland and the Netherlands.

Activity also continued to rise in the United States, although Germany and France remained in contraction.

The NatWest Wales Growth Tracker is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to Welsh companies in the manufacturing and services sectors.

PUBGOERS are being urged to leave their pint glasses behind this summer amid warnings that thefts are adding pressure to already struggling pubs.

The call comes after Jeremy Clarkson revealed that his Oxfordshire pub, The Farmer’s Dog, is losing up to 400 pint glasses a week.

Small business comparison site Bionic said the issue is not confined to one venue, with millions of adults admitting they have taken tableware from pubs, bars or restaurants.

Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic, said: “Many people see taking a pint glass home as a harmless act, but the costs can quickly add up for pubs, bars and restaurants already facing rising expenses and tight margins.

“If you want to support UK hospitality and help your favourite venues thrive this summer, leave all pint glasses behind.”

Bionic said glass theft can also have consequences for customers.

Ms Court-Jones added: “Stealing glassware from a pub might seem like a minor offence, but it is still theft. Licensed premises have the right to refuse service and may bar individuals caught stealing.

“In some cases, the police may be called. While a prison sentence is unlikely for a minor offence, individuals may face a formal warning, a fine, or a criminal record.”

The company said pubs and bars can reduce losses by using CCTV, setting clear house rules, switching to unbranded glassware, and checking whether their insurance covers stolen or damaged stock.

Hospitality businesses across the UK have faced rising costs in recent years, including energy, staffing, food, drink and supplies, with many warning that even small losses can have a serious impact on margins.

Caption: Jeremy Clarkson at The Farmer’s Dog pub, where glass theft has reportedly become a major problem.