Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact that closing blast furnaces in (a) Port Talbot and (b) Scunthorpe on the UK's (i) virgin steel supply and (ii) defence industry.

This Government recognises the vital role the UK steel industry plays in Defence, to both our national security and economic growth. .

It is not anticipated that the closure of the blast furnaces at Port Talbot or Scunthorpe will have any adverse impact on Defence, but we will continue to monitor that situation. The Government will be bringing forward a new Steel Strategy next spring that will ensure a sustainable future for UK steelmaking.