Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

North Staffordshire Ceramics Industry: Energy Costs

04 March 2025 · 5 other contributors · 4,012 words

Opened by David Williams Lab Stoke-on-Trent North

Responding minister: Sarah Jones

ClimateEnergyBusiness & Trade

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

David Williams raised concerns about north staffordshire ceramics industry: energy costs in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Royal Stafford ceramics firm ceased operations after nearly 200 years, leading to job losses.
  • City's disposable household income is 5,000 below the UK average.
  • Government urged to redirect defence spending to assist ceramic component producers.

Key requests to Government

The Government should support companies dealing with increased energy costs, recognising the critical role of ceramics in the economy. Redirect some defence spending to help ceramic component producers.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

David Williams Lab Stoke-on-Trent North

Royal Stafford ceramics firm went into liquidation after nearly 200 years of operation, causing job losses and highlighting urgent issues. The city's disposable household income is £5,000 behind the UK average. Energy costs have significantly increased, with bills tripling in some cases, impacting sustainability and leading to redundancies.

Other contributors (5)
  • Gareth Snell Lab/Co-op Stoke-on-Trent Central

    Supports redirecting some defence spending to ensure ceramic component producers receive necessary help and support.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Commends David Williams for bringing forward the debate and highlights the rich history of ceramics in Northern Ireland, suggesting more could be done in education to encourage young people into the sector.

  • Member for Lothian East Mr Alexander

    Discussed challenges faced by the ceramics industry and suggested meeting with the Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security.

  • Sarah Jones Con London

    Acknowledged the points raised by Gareth Snell about the challenges faced by ceramics companies due to narrow margins and high up-front costs. Highlighted efforts to collaborate across government departments and work on subsidies for energy-intensive industries.

  • Wendy Morton Con Aldridge-Brownhills

    Discusses the impact of energy costs on the bricks and roof tiles sectors alongside pots, advocating for continued support for energy-intensive industries.

Government Response

Sarah Jones

The Minister for Industry

Acknowledging the challenges faced by the ceramics industry due to energy costs, the Minister emphasizes the importance of looking towards future growth sectors and advanced manufacturing technologies. She mentions the upcoming industrial strategy which will focus on foundational industries like ceramics. The Minister also discusses potential applications in defence procurement with UK Export Finance support for SMEs. Additionally, she acknowledges the need for more creative solutions to address the challenges faced by energy-intensive industries. Emphasised the need for cross-departmental collaboration, mentioned ongoing discussions with officials from both Departments for Business and Trade and Energy Security and Net Zero. Discussed efforts to address grid connections, energy-intensive industries exemption scheme, and hydrogen as a potential solution for decarbonisation. Acknowledged concerns regarding hydrogen costs and suitability for certain areas.

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