Steel Industry

Debate between Baroness Jones of Whitchurch and Lord Davies of Gower

2nd reading
Saturday 12th April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

Can I just point out to the Minister that I asked a number a questions that she has not answered? Will she look at the record and write to me?

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)]

I apologise to the noble Lord—he was speaking more quickly than I can write. I will endeavour to respond to the points that I have not been able to respond to so far.

Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill

Debate between Baroness Jones of Whitchurch and Lord Davies of Gower

3rd reading
Saturday 12th April 2025 Lords Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Science, Information and Technology (Baroness Jones of Whitchurch) (Lab)]

My Lords, we are moving at pace, which is a good thing. I remain grateful to all noble Lords who have contributed to this process, in particular those who tabled amendments and those who have spoken in today’s debates.

The passing of this legislation is needed not just to protect British Steel and its 3,500 employees; it is needed to protect the future of the UK steel industry to forge the steel needed in our railways, homes and critical infrastructure. That is what is at stake here, which is why I am grateful to all those who have supported the Government in our action today. Our decision to protect UK steel-making now and long into the future is essential.

We know that events such as this are exceptionally rare, but the Government would never have requested a reconvening of Parliament were it not absolutely necessary. The emergency legislation introduced to this House means that the Government will now be able to order the iron ore, coal and other raw materials needed to keep the blast furnaces at Scunthorpe running.

I am grateful to everyone who has played a part in getting this legislation over the line. This includes noble Lords in this place, officials at the Department for Business and Trade, those in departments across government who have worked on the Bill, and the staff here on the estate who were called in at incredibly short notice. It is thanks to all those efforts that we can protect steel-making in this country now and for years to come. I beg to move.

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

My Lords, I shall be very brief. I just want to say that this is a very important and necessary debate, and it is right that we have had it today to do everything we can to support our remaining steel industry. I have sadly witnessed the demise of this great industry in Wales, particularly south Wales. As I say, we must do all we can to protect Scunthorpe, and this emergency Bill is intended to do just that.

It has been a very good debate, with passion from all sides of your Lordships’ House. On behalf of His Majesty’s loyal Opposition, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions. In particular, I thank the Minister for her part in this. Without further ado, I wish noble Lords well for the rest of the recess and a particularly happy Easter.

Social Security Payments: Uprating

Debate between Baroness Jones of Whitchurch and Lord Davies of Gower

Monday 10th October 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

The noble Baroness has made a very fair point. I cannot say that I disagree with her.

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)]

My Lords, I shall take the Minister back to the question asked by my noble friend Lady Lister. She asked what assessment the department used to understand the impact on poverty of not uprating in line with inflation. Can the Minister explain what that process is and what assessment has been made of the impact on poverty, because I do not think he answered that question first time round?

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

The Government are considering CPI at the moment, so I am going to have to repeat that we will have to wait to see what the figures are. At that point, I will be able to come back to the noble Baroness.