British Steel Industry
Debate between Marion Fellows and Alexander Stafford(4 years, 1 month ago)
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Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) (Con)
Does the hon. Lady agree that the steel industry goes wider than just steel manufacturers? For instance, last Friday I visited Lincoln Electric, a high-quality welding company that specialises in welding together all sorts of things, including steel plates. We need those auxiliary industries, which benefit the steel industry, to support more to happen in our country.
Marion Fellows
I really did not think I would be in such agreement with the hon. Gentleman, but I am pleased to say that on this topic, I am.
After a study into the industry, the UK Government encouraged the steel industry, as part of a planned industrial strategy, to come forward with a proposal for a sector deal, and it did. The industry made serious commitments on its side and asked for a list of commitments from the UK Government, which they have refused to sign up to—in particular, to decreasing energy costs for the steel industry. The industry sees that as vital if it is to compete with steel producers on the continent. The £50 million per annum electricity price disparity that the sector asked the UK Government to eliminate in autumn 2017 is now about £70 million per annum.
Even leading Tories say that the UK Government are a problem for the UK steel industry. The Tory Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, was quoted in The Spectator only this month as saying:
“The biggest problem with the steel industry in the UK is Whitehall…The UK steel policy and the BEIS team are absolutely useless.”
No one from the Opposition has actually said that, but this is what he says:
“It has become a sticking plaster. Oh, British Steel’s fallen over, how do we rescue it? Oh, now south Wales is in trouble, how do we rescue it?”
He says there is too much worrying about failure and not enough planning for success:
“It’s never: what do we want the steel industry to look like? What can we do as a developed nation when we’re having to compete with places like China?”
I have agreed with two Tories in one speech. This is something of a record, Sir Charles.