Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill

Zubir Ahmed Excerpts

2nd reading
Saturday 12th April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Alan Gemmell]

rose—

[Dr Zubir Ahmed (Glasgow South West) (Lab)]

rose—

[Stephen Flynn]

I am afraid that I will not give way because we are all constrained by time, in the same way that Labour Members will not take interventions either.

The Secretary of State’s answer to me earlier was that £200 million has been put forward through the National Wealth Fund. Each and every one of us knows that that is not in the gift of the Prime Minister or the Secretary of State to dictate. It ultimately relies on the private sector coming forward with a proposal. Indeed, in evidence given to the Scottish Affairs Committee just last week by EY, which has done the Project Willow report, it was quite clear in its observations that there will be no progress until 2030 at the earliest. That is simply not good enough, because while the Government mobilise every effort to save British Steel, they allow Grangemouth to fall on the back burner.

The hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Alan Gemmell) referred to industrial strategies. He seems to forget in that context that energy is a reserved matter for this United Kingdom Government—something the Secretary of State is all too familiar with, given our previous roles in this here House.

The final thought I will leave with Labour Members is that they should remember the fact that the Bill they are supporting extends solely to England and Wales.