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North Staffordshire Ceramics Industry: Energy Costs
04 March 2025
Lead MP
David Williams
Stoke-on-Trent North
Lab
Responding Minister
Sarah Jones
Tags
EconomyEmploymentClimate
Word Count: 4012
Other Contributors: 5
At a Glance
David Williams raised concerns about north staffordshire ceramics industry: energy costs in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
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:
Lead Contributor
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.
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
Government Response
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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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.