Metalnewsnet 17 May ：

Evening Gazette reported that a Teesside delegation will demand answers over the apparent lack of progress in talks to sell Teesside Cast Products when it meets one of parent company TATA Steel’s most powerful executives in London next week.

Although it was still unclear whether separately arranged meetings between Mr B Muthuraman and two leading local politicians would be conducted simultaneously or apart, both former Redcar MP Ms Vera Baird and Middlesbrough Mayor Mr Ray Mallon said it boiled down to a simple question: when will you sell?

With at least two bids known to be on the table, one by a North east consortium that had been facilitated by the Mayor and another from Thai steelmaker Sahaviriya Steel Industries, pressure has been mounting on Corus and parent TATA to close a deal. The negotiating process is now in the hands of CitiBank.

Mr Mallon said that "I want to discuss with Mr Muthuraman what needs to be done for things to be progressed and I am very encouraged by the fact he has invited me to meet with him."

While Mr Mallon adopted Ms Baird's previous approach of flattering TATA's reputation for corporate social responsibility, he has studiously avoided direct criticism of the company, preferring to save his fire for Government.

Mr Mallon said that "I believe that if steelmaking is to be saved on Teesside it will require everyone to pull in the same direction. The new government has a crucial role to play and I want to see them showing initiative and determination to find a solution qualities that were sadly lacking in the previous administration."

Ms Baird, who lost her Redcar seat to Liberal Democrat Mr Ian Swales in the recent election, was scolded by Mr Muthuraman earlier this spring for being too vocal in her criticism of the company, a charge she denied.

( from nebusiness)