US Steel and Aluminium Tariffs

Lord Kennedy of Southwark Excerpts

Wednesday 12th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)]

We will hear from my noble friend Lady Rafferty.

[Baroness Rafferty (Lab)]

My Lords, I welcome the Opposition’s sudden interest in the fortunes of the British steel industry—a sector which was neglected over the past 15 years and has suffered enormously as a result. This Government launched a consultation on a steel strategy earlier this year. Could my noble friend update the House on the status of that consultation? How soon does she envisage the strategy being brought forward?

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Macpherson of Earl’s Court (CB)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, we will hear from the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, next and then the noble Lord, Lord Caine.

[Baroness Hoey (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, I think that His Majesty’s Government are quite right not to rush into retaliatory measures, but will the Minister say whether they are giving any thought to what will happen when the EU retaliates? What happens to Northern Ireland, which has been left within the EU for these kinds of matters? That is something that they need to be looking at urgently.