Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2023 to Question 119981, whether he has made an assessment of the reasons for the change in the UK’s global ranking for steel production.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Over recent years, developing economies have expanded their steel sectors. As a result, developed economies have dropped down the global league table for steel production since 2008. The G20 Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) has identified that a significant proportion of the world’s excess steel capacity is coming from China, who provide a range of unfair subsidies and support to their steel industry.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
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.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
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 6th 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.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2023 to Question 120907, when the employment data for the steel sector for 2022 will be published.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Employment data is generated through the Business Register and Employment Survey, as made available through NOMIS (Official Census and Labour Market Statistics), a service provided by the Office for National Statistics.
According to the Release Calendar[1], the survey is due to be updated in September/October 2023.
[1] https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will meet with trade union representatives to discuss developments in the UK steel industry.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
My most recent meeting with steel trade union representatives took place on 24 January with Roy Rickhuss CBE, General Secretary of Community Trade Union. BEIS officials and I continue to actively engage with trade unions, companies and wider to support the UK steel sector to develop a viable, long-term solution for the UK steel industry.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2023 to Question 118973 on Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries, if he will make an estimate of the average amount of government funds to decarbonise a steel plant will receive.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Each steel company and site are different and will have different choices about their decarbonisation and technology pathway. It is therefore not possible to estimate the average level of Government support that could possibly be required.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2023 to Question 118973 on Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries, which (a) steel plants, (b) constituencies and (c) regions have been allocated how much government funds to become more energy efficient.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Information on the awards granted is not collated in the form requested. However, for details of all awards made under the programmes listed in Question 118973, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave him today to Question 126622.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2023 to Question 118973 on Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of successful applications made by steel plants to the £1.5 billion fund on levels of carbon emissions from those plants.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Together with all existing and new support outlined in the Net Zero Strategy we will continue to work together with industry to support the sector’s transition to a competitive, sustainable, and low carbon future. It’s not possible to calculate the impact of these schemes on carbon emissions at this this stage, as many of the projects are still in progress, but we hope to provide a figure in due course.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
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 adequacy of the level of steel production in the UK compared to countries in the EU.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Government recognises the importance of a strategic steel industry to the UK. We remain committed to a decarbonised and sustainable sector which supports local economic growth and boosts national security and industrial resilience.
The Government closely monitors the level of steel production in the UK. Global economic conditions continue to be challenging for the industry and the Government is working with the sector, the unions and devolved regions to support its transition to a globally competitive, sustainable, and low-carbon future.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to take steps to support steelworks jobs in (a) Scunthorpe and (b) Port Talbot.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Government has frequent discussions about how to secure the best outcomes for the UK economy, including sectors such as steel, rail and automotive, to ensure high-quality, well-paid jobs are available across the four nations.
The Government’s Net Zero Strategy reaffirms our commitment to working with the steel industry on decarbonisation. Industrial sectors including steel can bid into Government competitive funds worth more than £1.5 billion to support them to go green, cut emissions and become more energy efficient.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Government funding for the UK steel industry.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Government has frequent discussions about how to secure the best outcomes for the UK economy, including sectors such as steel, rail and automotive, to ensure high-quality, well-paid jobs are available across the four nations.
The Government’s Net Zero Strategy reaffirms our commitment to working with the steel industry on decarbonisation. Industrial sectors including steel can bid into Government competitive funds worth more than £1.5 billion to support them to go green, cut emissions and become more energy efficient.