Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Nia Griffith Excerpts
Wednesday 3rd July 2013

(11 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Stephen Crabb Portrait Stephen Crabb
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As I understand the project across the Menai straits, four options are being looked at and sub-sea is one of them. I shall certainly discuss the matter with National Grid, as I recognise the significant concern, and I will follow up with the hon. Gentleman in due course.

Nia Griffith Portrait Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab)
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The Welsh steel industry could have to wait yet another year for the Government to get state aid clearance for the energy-intensive industries package—a package that would not have been necessary had the Government not gone it alone and introduced such a high carbon floor price. What can the Minister do to secure interim support to prevent energy-intensive industries in Wales from being forced to run down production and lay off workers?

Stephen Crabb Portrait Stephen Crabb
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I and the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon), recently met representatives of different industries in south and north Wales for a round table to discuss precisely that question. Those present included Tata Steel and Celsa Steel, large industrialists from south Wales, and Toyota from north Wales. We are looking at specific solutions that will keep the Welsh economy powering ahead.