Minister to hold new talks in India over Tata's UK steel plans

The Business Secretary is going to Mumbai again to meet officials from Tata amid continued speculation that the company is finalising the sale of part of its UK assets.

Sajid Javid will hold talks with Tata as the Indian conglomerate looks set to announce that it will sell its speciality steel business, which employs 2,000 workers in Hartlepool, Rotherham and Stocksbridge.

The move would increase uncertainty among workers in the rest of Tata's operations, including the country's biggest steel plant at Port Talbot in South Wales.

Tata has been assessing several bids for weeks after announcing earlier this year that it was selling its loss-making UK business.

Speculation has been growing that it will sell off its speciality steel business but will continue to assess options for the rest of its plants.