Speciality Steel UK Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
Jim Shannon
Main Page: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)Department Debates - View all Jim Shannon's debates with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
(1 month, 2 weeks ago)
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Jonathan Reynolds
My hon. Friend tempts me to comment on certain issues, which I might swerve a little. He is right to say that the priority for politicians should be trying to resolve these issues and get steelworkers back to work, and anything that detracts from that or that goes in a different direction is deeply regrettable.
Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
I thank the Secretary of State for his responses. For businesses in Northern Ireland that rely on imported steel from large producers such as Speciality Steel, these changes create a significant risk of increasing costs, forced changes to suppliers and disruption to supply chains. Steel is a critical input for Northern Ireland, contributing to some 10% of our workforce, and the potential consequences for manufacturing, construction and engineering industries in Northern Ireland are significant. Does the Secretary of State agree that every effort must be made to ensure that Northern Ireland is not economically cut off by steel import arrangements protection for GB, and that this must not be at a cost to businesses in Northern Ireland?