Oral Answers to Questions

John Healey Excerpts

Thursday 3rd April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

There is certainly a link. I have not done a detailed analysis to see whether the correlation is 1:1, but I would not be surprised.

[John Healey (Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab)]

T3. The Secretary of State will know that almost alone among advanced economies, the UK economy is still smaller, and our industry is still producing less, than before the global financial crisis. Does he agree that strategic industries such as steelmaking are essential for growth that is more manufacturing-based and investment and export-led? While the Budget announcement of relief on the rising costs of the renewables obligation is very welcome, two years is too long to wait. Will he seriously consider the case that Tata and other energy-intensive users are making to bring this in sooner?

[The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Michael Fallon)]

Tata Steel has made it clear that it welcomes the announcement in the Budget. It is important not to promise a scheme that could not necessarily be delivered by April 2015, because these schemes, like the others, take time to receive state aid clearance in Brussels.