The Scottish government confirms that it has agreed a £195,000 support package to retain key staff at the Tata Steel-owned Dalzell and Clydebridge steel plants, Kallanish learns.

The two mills were part of a UK plate production restructuring package announced by the Indian steelmaker in October and have been mothballed since that time.

A number of staff will be paid approximately 60% of gross salary and receive advanced training to ensure the plants can reopen quickly, as and when production resumes, the government says in a statement.

"It is critical for any new commercial operator intending on restarting production at Dalzell and Clydebridge to be able to get the mothballed plants quickly up and running again after a period of inactivity,” says business minister Fergus Ewing.

"So we have agreed to work with the existing management and trade unions to retain and develop the nucleus of a manufacturing team. That will be attractive to prospective buyers who seek the knowledge and insight to maximise the productive capability of the sites".

The Scottish government has already met with Tata Steel and prospective buyer Greybull Capital to discuss the future of the plants, Ewing says.