Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether the Government intends to retain British Steel Limited in public ownership permanently.

Public ownership provides the immediate platform from which the Government can stabilise the company and consider its future direction by exploring what opportunities there may be to deliver a long-term future for the company, including possible options for private sector investment.

The Government recognises that securing the long-term future of the UK's steel sector relies on both public and private investment for modernisation.