Government using new powers to keep ‘British Steel’ alive

The Business Secretary Jonathon Reynolds has taken decisive action exercising the government’s new powers to get the materials needed to keep British Steel alive.

Officials were on site as soon as the new legislation came into force on Saturday, and have been working with British Steel’s management to ensure workers and suppliers can get paid on time.

They are today [Monday] working to get nearby raw materials – like coking coal – on site to keep the blast furnaces running. This is crucial to the running of the plant because – if they fall below a certain temperature – it risks irreparable damage to the site, with the steel setting and scarring the machinery.

Dozens of businesses – like Tata and Rainham Steel – have rallied to support British Steel by offering managerial support and raw materials. 

This follows the Prime Minister meeting staff on Saturday following a critical move to take control of the company to save jobs, steel, and our industrial heartlands.

Steel is pivotal to the incoming Modern Industrial Strategy – a 10-year plan to provide business with the certainty and stability to invest and innovate in the growth-driving sectors that will shape the UK’s economy, drive regional development, enhance living standards and create high quality jobs.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

“When I said steelmaking has a future in the UK, I meant it. That’s why we’ve passed these new powers to save British Steel at Scunthorpe, and that’s why my team are already hard at work on the ground to keep jobs going and furnaces burning.

“Steel is vital for our national security and our ambitious plans for the housing, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors in the UK. We will set out a long-term plan to co-invest with the private sector to ensure steel in the UK has a bright and sustainable future.”