Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Steel Industry

Thursday 7 March 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government committed up to 500 million joint investment with Tata Steel.
  • More than 730 million has been delivered since 2013 for energy cost relief.
  • Procurement policies are being updated to encourage more domestic purchasing.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alex Cunningham Lab
Business & Trade
Context

The MP is concerned about ongoing support for the UK's steel industry, which has faced significant challenges and restructuring.

Question

What steps she is taking to help support the steel industry. The Government have abandoned Teesside steel several years ago and may now be ready to give up on primary steelmaking in the UK, relying instead on recycled materials through electric arc furnaces. Despite local attempts to secure planning consent improperly, will the Minister investigate this? Will she confirm a final agreement that an electric arc furnace will definitely be built on Teesside?

Answer from Nusrat Ghani

Our commitment to UK steel is clear with up to £500 million joint investment with Tata Steel. More than £730 million has been delivered since 2013 for energy cost relief, and procurement policies are updated to ensure more domestic procuring. We are in talks with British Steel following generous offers of support.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Investigating improper local procedures for securing planning consent and confirming a final agreement for the electric arc furnace in Teesside.

How: Fundamentally Locally, Closely Work With Mayor Ben Houchen

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Q2 Alex Cunningham Lab
Employment Business & Trade Local Government
Context

The MP is concerned about the Government's previous abandonment of Teesside steel and their current approach to supporting primary steelmaking in the UK through recycled materials using electric arc furnaces. There are local concerns about proper procedures being circumvented for securing planning consent.

Question

We are disappointed that the Government abandoned Teesside steel years ago and may now rely on recycled material utilising electric arc furnaces, with Teesside pencilled in for one such furnace. Will the Minister investigate improper local attempts to secure planning consent? More importantly, will she confirm a final agreement ensuring an electric arc furnace is definitely built on Teesside?

Answer from Nusrat Ghani

Issues raised are fundamentally local, closely working with Mayor Ben Houchen on his region. Reality is steel sector faced uncertainty; support provided to Tata Steel at Port Talbot and largest grant ever made available to steel industry, now in conversation with British Steel for long-term UK steel strategy.

Not addressed: Investigating improper local procedures for securing planning consent and confirming a final agreement for the electric arc furnace in Teesside.

How: Fundamentally Locally, Closely Work With Mayor Ben Houchen

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