Climate Change (Political Declaration) Bill - Amendment moved by the Leader of the Opposition

Announced that the reasoned amendment in the name of the Leader of the Opposition has been selected.

Proposes the Bill for Second Reading. Argues that nationalising British Steel will secure a strong domestic steel industry, promote resilience and protect jobs. Highlights previous Government's failure to support the sector adequately.

Questions whether nationalisation was timely enough given job losses in Port Talbot. Expresses support for the Bill but raises concerns about its implementation.

Highlights international trade deals that can champion British steel, citing examples from Nigeria and southern Africa.

Asks how global competitors will react if the Bill passes and queries whether domestic manufacturers will face higher costs due to nationalisation.

Inquires about discussions with the Ministry of Defence regarding defence applications requiring virgin steel. Also questions the scope and potential misuse of the Bill's nationalisation power.

Raises concerns about the breadth of the public interest test, questioning if it is too broad and may be misused by future Secretaries of State.

Welcomes support from trade unions for nationalising British Steel. Emphasises the need to engage with unions throughout the process.

Questions how the Bill addresses needs of companies like Gibbs Gears, which rely on specialist grades of steel not produced domestically.

Several hon. members rose to speak, indicating their interest in putting remarks on record regarding the topic under debate.

As the shadow Minister, Judith Cummins provided procedural guidance. She announced an immediate six-minute time limit for Back-Bench speeches and a swift move to three minutes to allow as many Members as possible to speak on the important topic.

Challenges Andrew Griffith on whether he supports foreign ownership of British Steel. Considers Griffith's position unclear.

Questions Andrew Griffith about selling British Steel to Chinese owners in 2019, implying criticism of Conservative policy.

Critiques Andrew Griffith's government for failing to act on steel industry closures and asks about sustainability in communities affected by industrial decline.

Agrees with Andrew Griffith that tariffs approach is illogical, as reducing quotas will decrease supply and increase cost, impacting domestic production negatively.

Warns about the potential impact of protecting steel markets on other industries like car manufacturing. Highlights historical economic failures under previous nationalisations.

Byrne opposes the amendment and supports the Bill, arguing that a sovereign capability to produce steel is critical in today’s global context. He highlights six areas where clarity and support are needed: investment resources, lower energy costs, tariffs, procurement, scrap supply, and consolidation. Byrne emphasises the need for a robust 'statecraft' approach beyond mere statism.

Welcomes the Bill for its strategic importance to the UK economy and security. Highlights concerns about fair distribution of funding across different steel sites, urging investment in Llanwern Works and other Welsh producers. Supports the import quota system but asks for closer scrutiny of galvanised steel imports from non-EU countries. Emphasises the need for robust procurement policies and more targeted energy support.

Anderson is against the bill, highlighting that it will negatively impact Amodil and other key industries due to tariff-induced cost increases. He requests a pause for discussions with the Secretary of State.

Kyle interjected, stating that he understands Anderson's concerns and will look into Amodil specifically to ensure there is no negative impact downstream when capacity cannot be produced in the UK.

McDonald supports the bill, praising it for protecting Britain’s steel industry strategically. He discusses the historical significance of the steel industry in his constituency and emphasises the need for a proactive government intervention to preserve industrial capacity.

Chadwick supports the bill, highlighting its importance for the steel industry's health and addressing skills shortages in welding. He emphasises the strategic nature of steel and criticises China's impact on the UK steel industry.

Pays tribute to Scunthorpe steelworks and supports bringing British Steel back into public ownership. Argues for resolving the ownership issue to enable a positive future for steelmaking in the UK. Questions Minister about plans to develop industrial land properly.

Congratulates the Government on bringing forward the Bill and calls for a bold vision to renew and rebuild blast furnaces, advocating diversity in steelmaking methods.

Supports nationalising British Steel, arguing it safeguards the UK's steel capability and capacity. Advocates for British procurement to use domestically produced steel in infrastructure projects.

Raises concerns about lack of consultation with industry before introducing tariffs on imported steel products. Cites specific cases where the legislation will cause bankruptcy for businesses reliant on specialist steels.

Disagrees with the Bill, arguing nationalisation will create inefficiencies and increase costs for taxpayers. Questions where nationalisation will stop next and raises concerns about tariffs and quotas impacting industries negatively. Cites specific example of Davicon, a UK leading mezzanine manufacturer, facing significant quota reductions and tariff increases.

Indicated dissent during debate without providing detailed arguments or statistics.

Argues steel is fundamental to UK's industrial heritage, stressing importance of Scunthorpe’s steelworks for local communities. Emphasises national interest in retaining capacity for homes, railways, energy infrastructure and defence capability. Supports public ownership for strategic industries.

Ms Baldwin criticises the bill for its lack of strategic planning and potential for indefinite taxpayer costs. She highlights that nationalisation has been presented as a solution without addressing underlying issues such as high energy prices and inflationary tariffs on imported steel.

Asked an intervention question to the shadow Minister, indicating a desire for clarification on certain issues but not providing enough context to determine overall position.

McDonald argues that nationalising the steel industry is necessary to increase productive capacity, as it has declined under Conservative rule. He cites historical examples of previous nationalisations and emphasises the importance of industrial policy for technological shifts. McDonald criticises the opposition's ideological approach, focusing instead on the practical need for improved productivity and investment in the sector. He highlights the pride and dignity of steel workers and their communities, stressing that they do not want subsidies but support from government to invest in critical infrastructure.

[INTERVENTION] Andrew Griffith briefly interjected to highlight a key ideological difference with Labour on energy policy, arguing that it will hinder the sustainability of the steel industry.

[INTERVENTION] Pamela Nash sought confirmation from the Minister regarding the future of Dalzell plate mill in Motherwell, emphasising its importance to the UK steel strategy.