Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Support for Industry

Tuesday 23 June 2026 · 4 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial assessment of electric vehicle targets for 2030 will be reviewed a year earlier than planned.
  • Government is supporting British steel manufacturing through nationalisation and increased backing for specific plants.
  • Steel tariffs of 50% on imports are intended to protect domestic production and prevent undercutting by foreign competition.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Cat Eccles Lab Stourbridge
Energy Business & Trade
Context

The Chancellor has revised the electric vehicle targets for 2030 following representations from industry, unions, and MPs.

Question

I welcome the decisions taken by the Chancellor and Government colleagues to revise the electric vehicle targets for 2030, following representations from the industry, unions and MPs. Targets are really great, but they need to match capabilities and market realities. What assessment has she made of how the change will safeguard jobs in the automotive supply chain in my constituency of Stourbridge and across the UK?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

I thank my hon. Friend, and other MPs who speak for constituencies with automotive businesses, for their representations. As she said, we are bringing forward the review of the zero emission vehicle mandate, so it will now take place this year—a year earlier than planned. In that, we will look at a slower phase-in of those targets to bring us closer, for example, to where the EU is.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment on safeguarding jobs in automotive supply chain was not provided

How: Bringing Forward Review, Looking At Slower Phase-In

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Q2 Cat Eccles Lab Stourbridge
Economy Business & Trade
Context

Manufacturing businesses in Mid Buckinghamshire rely on steel that is not made in the UK, putting them at risk due to upcoming tariffs.

Question

Mid Buckinghamshire is home to a number of businesses that are part of the supply chain for the aerospace and defence industries. Those businesses rely on steel that is categorically not made here in the United Kingdom. If the Department for Business and Trade fails to rectify the cliff edge that is coming on steel tariffs, what will the Treasury do to backfill that and ensure that many businesses, such as those in my constituency, do not become completely unviable?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point about making sure that we get the balance right. We are supporting steel made in Britain, which the previous Government neglected; we are backing it through the nationalisation of the steelworks in Scunthorpe and more support for Port Talbot and Sheffield, but I also recognise the challenge that some British companies will face.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures to backfill tariffs were not provided

How: Recognising Challenges, Supporting Steel In Britain

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Q3 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Employment Business & Trade
Context

Next week, swingeing tariffs on steel imports will come into effect, putting manufacturing businesses and thousands of jobs at risk.

Question

Next week, those swingeing 50% tariffs on steel imports will hit manufacturing businesses across the country, putting thousands of jobs at risk. While they are intended to protect domestic production, industry is warning that many grades simply are not made in the UK in the quantity needed. It is a simple question for the Chancellor: will she guarantee that tariffs will not apply where businesses cannot get steel in the UK?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

Our steel strategy protects the UK steel industry, so that more orders can come to British Steel and other steel manufacturers in the UK. We will not allow our steel sector to be undercut by cheap foreign imports.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific guarantee on tariffs exemptions for businesses without domestic supply was not provided

How: Protecting Uk Steel Industry

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Q4 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Energy Business & Trade
Context

The Chancellor has revised the electric vehicle targets for 2030 following representations from industry, unions, and MPs.

Question

I welcome the decisions taken by the Chancellor and Government colleagues to revise the electric vehicle targets for 2030, following representations from the industry, unions and MPs. Targets are really great, but they need to match capabilities and market realities. What assessment has she made of how the change will safeguard jobs in the automotive supply chain in my constituency of Stourbridge and across the UK?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

I thank my hon. Friend, and other MPs who speak for constituencies with automotive businesses, for their representations. As she said, we are bringing forward the review of the zero emission vehicle mandate, so it will now take place this year—a year earlier than planned. In that, we will look at a slower phase-in of those targets to bring us closer, for example, to where the EU is.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment on safeguarding jobs in automotive supply chain was not provided

How: Bringing Forward Review, Looking At Slower Phase-In

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How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)