UK Steel Industry
Debate between Stephen Doughty and Nicholas DakinWestminster Hall is an alternative Chamber for MPs to hold debates, named after the adjoining Westminster Hall.
Each debate is chaired by an MP from the Panel of Chairs, rather than the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. A Government Minister will give the final speech, and no votes may be called on the debate topic.
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Stephen Doughty
I absolutely agree. It is very much the case that from Shotton to Cardiff, from Skinningrove to Llanelli, from Scunthorpe to Middlesbrough and from Newport to Redcar, steel producers are being outflanked by significant challenges, including energy prices, which continue to increase unabated. The rules of the game appear to have changed. I want to focus on a number of strategic issues.
Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)
I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this timely debate. Does he share my disappointment that in the autumn statement the Chancellor did not take the opportunity to bring forward mitigation on the renewables obligation for high energy users, such as the steel industry? That would have been a clear message today that the Government are on the side of steelmakers.
Stephen Doughty
I share my hon. Friend’s disappointment. I asked the Chancellor a question on that issue, and I was disappointed that he chose to make a political point, rather than engage with the serious issues being raised by many hon. Members.
I want to focus on a number of strategic issues. Whether it is energy prices, taxation, foreign dumping, uncertain future ownership or the lack of clarity in the UK’s industrial and infrastructure strategies, it is crucial for the sake of our future industrial and manufacturing capacity, as well as for jobs across the UK, that the steel industry has urgent, robust and bold action from the Government, not caution and bureaucratic handwringing alongside many warm words that make little difference in practice.