Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing steel import quotas to ensure that 60 per cent of steel used in the UK is made by domestic producers.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Steel is a top priority for this Government and we recognise the continuing challenges facing the UK steel industry – driven by global overcapacity and with a changing landscape on international trade.
This Government is developing a steel strategy to be published in 2025 that will set out a long-term vision for a bright and sustainable steel sector in the UK and the actions needed to get there. Moreover, we will will ensure there is a plan in place for the UK steel industry in light of the expiry of the global safeguard measure on certain steel imports next year.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the UK's steelmaking capacity on the UK's (a) defence and (b) critical infrastructure.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK steel sector provides vital support to the UK’s defence capabilities including specialist cast and forged steel components for a range of UK defence programmes such as submarines, surface vessels and artillery barrels.
An initial assessment of the impact of changes in UK Steelmaking capacity on the UK’s (a) defence and (b) critical infrastructure is deemed low. Steel used in our major Defence programmes is sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers, as programmes may often have requirements for specialist steel which cannot be sourced in the UK.
The amount and origins of steel procured for Defence programmes is included in the Department for Business and Trade’s annual Steel Public Procurement report which can be found on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/steel-public-procurement
This Government is producing a steel strategy that will consider implications for Defence and Critical infrastructure and create the right conditions in the UK for a competitive and sustainable steel industry.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has made an assessment of the legislative changes required to disestablish the Church of England.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Church of England is by law the Established Church in England. The relationship between the Church and State is a core part of our constitutional framework that has evolved over centuries. The Government has no plans to disestablish the Church of England and therefore no assessment has been made of the legislative changes that would be required.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and (b) representatives of the Welsh steel industry on the potential impact of proposed EU steel import quotas on (i) steel production and (ii) employment in Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
I met with the Minister for Industry to discuss the potential impact of proposed EU steel proposals and continue to work closely with cabinet colleagues as Government responds to protect our domestic steel industry. I remain in close contact with all Welsh steelmakers and have had numerous discussions with Tata Steel UK and steel unions to understand the potential impact on individual businesses. As Chair of the Port Talbot Transition Board, I also discussed this with members at the October meeting.
We recognise that global trading conditions remain challenging for the steel industry as global overcapacity, trade diversion and weak demand continue to put downward pressure on prices. To address these conditions, the Government intervened earlier this year to strengthen the current steel safeguard measures. This Government will continue to review stronger trade measures to protect steel producers in South Wales and across the UK.
We are actively engaging at all levels with the European Commission, and key Member States, with the aim of securing a positive outcome for the UK. We will always defend our critical steel industry, which is vital for the UK.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has held discussions with the European Commission on mitigating the potential impact of proposed EU steel import quotas on UK steel exports.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We are in active dialogue with the European Commission on this issue. The Secretary of State spoke about it with Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, on 20 October.
We will continue to take a cool-headed approach to any possible tariffs and remain prepared to defend the UK’s national interest where it is right to do so.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to introduce fiscal measures to support the long-term competitiveness of the UK steel industry in the Autumn Budget 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This Government remains committed to supporting the UK steel industry.
The Government will also set out a long-term vision for a revitalised and sustainable sector in a Steel Strategy to be published by the end of the year.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Government plans to release the £2.5 billion of funding to support investment in UK steel decarbonisation and productivity improvements.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This Government remains committed to supporting the UK steel industry.
The Government will also set out a long-term vision for a revitalised and sustainable sector in a Steel Strategy to be published by the end of the year.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department expects the Crown Estate and developers participating in the Celtic Sea Floating Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 to announce the locations for turbine manufacturing, assembly and maintenance facilities; and if he will publish details of the bidding or selection process for those supply-chain contracts.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Crown Estate has announced that Equinor and Gwynt Glas have now entered into agreements for lease to develop two new 1.5GW floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea, which could be operational by the mid-2030s.
The Crown Estate has estimated that full delivery of the Round could support over 5,000 new jobs and deliver a £1.4bn boost to the UK economy.
While timing and allocation of contracts for manufacturing, construction and maintenance of the windfarms are commercial decisions for the companies involved, the Government is engaging with ports and public finance institutions to support development of supply chain and infrastructure needed for these projects and future floating wind development.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on the planned timeline for (a) the first turbines to become operational and (b) other aspects of the projects awarded leases under the Crown Estate’s Celtic Sea Floating Offshore Wind Leasing Round Five.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Crown Estate has announced that Equinor and Gwynt Glas have now entered into agreements for lease to develop two new 1.5GW floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea, which could be operational by the mid-2030s.
The Crown Estate has estimated that full delivery of the Round could support over 5,000 new jobs and deliver a £1.4bn boost to the UK economy.
While timing and allocation of contracts for manufacturing, construction and maintenance of the windfarms are commercial decisions for the companies involved, the Government is engaging with ports and public finance institutions to support development of supply chain and infrastructure needed for these projects and future floating wind development.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to disapply the Procurement Act 2023 to UK-produced steel used in public infrastructure projects under Section 25 of that Act.
Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government is committed to supporting the steel sector, and is considering a range of options to ensure that public procurement supports UK jobs and industry, including steel.