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Written Question
Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the future of the steelmaking industry in Wales?

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of subjects, including steelmaking in Wales.

This Government is investing £500 million into steelmaking at Port Talbot. This will protect 5,000 steel jobs and thousands more in the supply chain whilst increasing our economic security.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries
Monday 5th February 2024

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has met representatives of UK steel since his appointment.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Ministry of Defence Ministers and officials have regular meetings with counterparts in other Government Departments on a range of matters including industry and the defence supply chain.

In regard of meetings with UK Steel, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 14 November 2023 to Question number 1039.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries
Thursday 30th November 2023

Asked by: Edward Leigh (Conservative - Gainsborough)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of the blast furnaces in Scunthorpe on virgin steel production.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

Almost all the G20 countries have operational blast furnaces, and a number of those are transitioning to electric arc furnaces as well.

We know the importance of Scunthorpe, which is a key driver of economic growth. British Steel provides a third of all domestic production supplied to the construction and rail industries.

We continue to be in negotiations to make sure that we secure the best deal, and one that is good value for taxpayers, when it comes to Scunthorpe.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries
Tuesday 19th September 2023

Asked by: Lord Sikka (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish a table showing the UK steel production, steel imports, steel exports, and the investment needed to make the UK self-sufficient in the production of steel.

Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Measure

Estimate (2022; millions of tonnes)

Source

Total UK Crude Steel Production

6.0

World Steel Association (here)

Total UK Imports of Semi-Finished and Finished Steel Products (Defined by Harmonised System codes 7206 – 7307)

5.5

HMRC Trade Info (here)

Total UK Exports of Semi-Finished and Finished Steel Products (Defined by Harmonised System codes 7206 – 7307)

3.4

HMRC Trade Info (here)

We have not made an estimate on the investment needed to make the UK self-sufficient in the production of steel, nor are we aware of any such estimates from external sources.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries
Monday 31st July 2023

Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 18 July (HL9088), whether they will now answer the question which was asked.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We do not collate information across government regarding the sums spent on supporting the steel industry in Wales.

We have provided £730mn in energy costs relief to the UK steel sector since 2013. However, we are unable to publish a breakdown of the value of energy intensive industry cost relief schemes to the steel sector in Wales. Doing so would be disclosive, enabling some companies or third parties to calculate how much support other companies have received. Steel companies in Wales will also benefit from the British Industry Supercharger measures to reduce energy costs for energy intensive industries.

As previously set out, industrial sectors, including the steel sector in Wales, have also been able to bid into Government funds worth hundreds of millions of pounds to support energy efficiency and de-carbonisation. For example, Cardiff-based Celsa Steel UK has been awarded grants totalling £5,295,451 from Phase 1 of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund. Celsa has also successfully repaid a £30mn Government loan, which supported 1800 jobs.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries
Wednesday 5th July 2023

Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the impact of electricity prices on (a) steel producers and (b) the steel industry.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

Ofgem has previously carried out research on what drives comparatively high GB electricity prices for energy intensive industries (EIIs) and has compared these with selected European countries. Ofgem published a report in 2021 which can be found here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/research-gb-electricity-prices-energy-intensive-industries(opens in a new tab).

The Government recognises that EIIs, including steel producers, are feeling the impact of high energy prices. The 2022 British Energy Security Strategy announced that the EII Compensation Scheme would be extended for a further 3 years.

In February, we announced the British Industry Supercharger: a decisive set of measures aimed at reducing electricity costs for EIIs to bring them in line with those charged across the world’s major economies.

We have already provided extensive energy costs relief to the steel sector since 2013, including through the Energy Bills Relief Scheme. Steel producers will continue to receive support until 31 March 2024 through the Energy Bills Discount Scheme.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries
Tuesday 4th July 2023

Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of industrial energy prices in (a) Germany and (b) France on the UK steel industry.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

Ofgem has previously carried out research on what drives comparatively high GB electricity prices for energy intensive industries (EIIs) and has compared these with selected European countries. Ofgem published a report in 2021 which can be found here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/research-gb-electricity-prices-energy-intensive-industries(opens in a new tab).

The Government recognises that EIIs, including steel producers, are feeling the impact of high energy prices. The 2022 British Energy Security Strategy announced that the EII Compensation Scheme would be extended for a further 3 years.

In February, we announced the British Industry Supercharger: a decisive set of measures aimed at reducing electricity costs for EIIs to bring them in line with those charged across the world’s major economies.

We have already provided extensive energy costs relief to the steel sector since 2013, including through the Energy Bills Relief Scheme. Steel producers will continue to receive support until 31 March 2024 through the Energy Bills Discount Scheme.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries
Thursday 29th June 2023

Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to help support the steel industry.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

The Government is actively engaging with the steel industry for a sustainable future and my Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business & Trade recently visited British Steel in Scunthorpe and Tata Steel in Port Talbot.

The British Industry Supercharger will bring energy costs for energy intensive industries, including steel, in line with the world’s major economies. The industry has been able to bid into various funds to support energy efficiency and decarbonisation. We have updated the Steel Procurement Policy Note to create a level playing field for UK steel producers, implemented a robust trade remedies framework to protect domestic industry, and acted to resolve market access constraints on steel trade with the US and the EU.

A Government loan to Celsa Steel UK supported 1,800 jobs and has been repaid in full.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries
Tuesday 20th June 2023

Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Public Procurement Note 04/23: Procuring Steel in Government Contracts, published 11 April 2023, on the domestic steel industry.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

The updated Public Procurement Note (PPN) 04/23 implements most of the recommendations produced by the Steel Procurement Taskforce, which is a joint effort between Government and the steel industry to help the sector best position itself for success in public contracts.

PPN 04/23 reflects changes to the project appraisal and procurement policy landscape and commercial best practice while clarifying the scope of reporting requirements on steel origin data. It also enhances our procurement data collection methodology, and it emphasises the importance of early engagement between procurers, producers, and suppliers, to help make future opportunities more visible.


Written Question
Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries
Tuesday 20th June 2023

Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to support the steel industry.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

The Government is actively engaging with the steel industry for a sustainable future. The industry has been able to bid into competitive funds worth more than £1billion to support energy efficiency and decarbonisation. The British Industry Supercharger will bring energy costs for energy intensive industries, including steel, in line with the world’s major economies.

We have updated the Steel Procurement Policy Note to create a level playing field for UK steel producers, implemented a robust trade remedies framework to protect domestic industry, including steel, and acted to resolve market access constraints on steel trade with the US and the EU.