PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has said the future of steel making is “critical” to Tees Valley, with the Government supporting a reconciliation between Corus and the consortium of buyers who pulled out of their deal with the steel giant.

The future of 2,000 jobs at Corus Teesside Cast Products have been at risk since the four international steel buyers walked out on an agreement with the site in May.

Last week Mr Brown told Teesside union officials at the GMB union’s conference in Blackpool that he would talk to officials from Tata, the owners of Corus.

At yesterday’s Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, asked Mr Brown about the progress the Government had made in attempting to help save the threat hanging over the head of Teesside steelmaking.

The Prime Minister said he had talked to Corus, met with trade unions and had also held discussions with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson.

“The future of steel making in this region is absolutely crucial, so we are trying to do everything we can to make that happen,” he added.

“Clearly, there is a dispute between Tata and the partners involved in the consortium that has now withdrawn its order for steel making in the area.

“We want to support a reconciliation between the two groups, which is what we are trying to do.”

He added regional development agency One North East was “trying to help those people who are in search of jobs”.

Mr Kumar today said: “The Prime Minister is listening and acting on Teesside steel fears.”

He added: “He and business ministers are straining very muscle to see that agreement can be reached between Corus, Tata steel and the international purchasing consortium to allow production and trade to resume for the good of Teesside and the industry.”

Tata Steel, which owns Corus, is due to report its annual financial results today.

The report, will include figures for Tata Steel Europe, which takes in steel making operations in the UK.

The battle to secure a future for steel making on Teesside will take to the streets of Redcar next month.

The rally, which has been organised by union bosses, will take place on Saturday July 18.