Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken to publish the Steel Strategy on the ability of British Steel to secure long-term customer contracts for 2026-27.

The Government is committed to supporting the UK steel sector. Our decisive legislative intervention at British Steel has secured UK manufactured steel for nationally important projects like airports and rail and supported jobs and national security.

We also remain committed to delivering a steel strategy in early 2026. The strategy will set out a long-term vision for a bright and sustainable steel sector in the UK and the actions needed to get there. Ministers and officials continue to engage closely with industry, trade unions and the Devolved Governments to ensure the final strategy delivers for businesses, steelworkers and the wider UK economy.

We do not anticipate any adverse impacts on British Steel or the availability of credit insurance for SMEs in the steel supply chain arising from the revised publication timing.