Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a closer partnership between the Government and the UK steel industry.

The Government engages regularly with the UK steel sector, trade unions and devolved administrations to develop a viable long-term future for the UK steel industry. This two-way engagement is very important, particularly in the current globally challenging economic conditions.

I held a call with members of the steel sector on 6^th December, met with Community Trade Union on the 24 January and attended the All Party Parliamentary Group (with sector representatives present) on the 25 January. I am due to meet soon with UK Steel, and I plan to hold the next steel sector call in February.