THE Government last night dashed any hopes that it is ready to offer more help for the mothballed Corus steel plant.

Responding to calls for help from the region’s MPs, the Government made it clear that there would be no direct intervention to help the Teesside Cast Products (TCP) plant at Redcar, east Cleveland.

A nine-page document compiled by Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson’s department placed responsibility for securing a new buyer firmly in the hands of Corus.

The response was condemned by union leaders.

Geoff Waterfield, the plant’s multi-union chairman, dismissed the report.

He said: “I do not think an awful lot about it. The report says the Government are committed to helping, without explaining how they are going to do it.

“It says the Government is not there to keep businesses open but to help people after they have lost their job. Surely they should be doing something before it gets to that situation.

“We are still waiting for certain things from the Government, but this report just looks like an insurance policy – they are saying plenty of things that they cannot do and there is very little that they can do – it is a toothless report.”

The report, which forms the Government’s response to criticisms by the Parliamentary North-East Regional Committee, said ministers were talking to Corus and parent company Tata Steel to secure a buyer.

Stockton South MP Dari Taylor said: “Their response was positive and clear – they want to find a way to return the plant to operation as soon as possible.”

A Corus spokesman said: “We are grateful for the Government’s quick response. We are continuing to keep them informed while we continue to fight to secure a future for Teesside.”

However, Redcar MP Vera Baird believes the chances of securing a deal could be severely affected by Phil Dryden, the director of the Long Products Division, leaving Corus.

She said: “He was the management member who knew the customers of TCP and the plant’s closest details best. I am disappointed that he has left, and he is now the third divisional director to leave the business since Kirby Adams arrived.”

She plans to raise the issue with Balasubramanian Muthuraman, the vice-chairman of Tata Steel.