Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Elmore and Greg Clark

Tuesday 13th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab/Co-op)]

13. When the joint Steel Council next plans to meet.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Greg Clark)]

The Steel Council will next meet in the new year. I will also meet senior steel industry chief executives and the trade union steel committee next month.

[Chris Elmore]

I am sure the Secretary of State will join me in congratulating all those involved in the Save our Steel campaign—especially the Community, GMB and Unite trade unions—on their vital contribution to the recent announcement on Port Talbot and other steel sectors across the UK. I am sure that he agrees that it is trade unionism at its best. Thousands of steelworkers and their families can look forward to a more certain 2017, but one of their real concerns remains their pensions. What will he do to bring forward better plans to ensure that steelworkers’ pensions, as well as their jobs, are protected?

[Greg Clark]

I certainly join the hon. Gentleman in welcoming and congratulating the workforce, trade unions and the employers on their very constructive set of discussions. It is important that the membership is consulted, but this is a positive step forward and he is right that this will provide greater comfort to employees this winter. The hon. Gentleman will know that it is right and proper for the independent Pensions Regulator, rather than the Government, to approve and be content with pensions arrangements. It would be wrong for the Government to intervene in that.