Leaders' debate: Carwyn Jones' plea for UK steel help

First Minister Carwyn Jones has urged the UK government to come forward with a package to help the steel industry with their energy costs.

Workers at Tata in Port Talbot are waiting to hear whether hundreds of jobs will be cut, to save the plant.

The company will make the announcement next week.

In a leaders' debate on BBC Radio Wales, Mr Jones said energy costs were "phenomenally high" and the UK government could take action.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said "all options should be considered" including the Welsh government taking "a temporary stake in the steel industry".

Mr Jones said his government could not do so as "the costs were huge".

'Woefully inadequate'

During Sunday Supplement, UKIP's leader in Wales Nathan Gill said more needed to be done to help small businesses and entrepreneurs.

The Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said it needed to be easier for small and medium sized businesses to access finance.

Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams said infrastructure was "woefully" inadequate, in particular, on mobile and internet technology.

Speaking after the programme, Mr Davies said the UK and Welsh governments should work together to help Tata steel. He said the Welsh government could provide more relief on business rates and the UK government should work with the EU on "anti-dumping measures".

Ms Williams agreed both governments should be collaborating but the UK government "really held the tools" to make a difference and it should be doing everything it could to protect Welsh jobs.

Mr Gill said the EU's state-aid rules made it difficult to do anything to help, however, he believed the UK government could provide the company with a short-term loan.

"We can't allow the furnaces to be switched off because once they are, they'll never be switched on again," he added.