An exceptional Saturday recall of Parliament, the first since the start of the Falklands War in 1982, has been arranged to discuss a crucial law aiming to secure the future of the Scunthorpe steelworks. The proposed law, while not fully nationalising British Steel, would equip the Government with the power to ‘direct’ it, with Downing Street affirming that ‘all options remain on the table’. The urgency of the situation stems from the necessity to maintain raw material supplies to keep the blast furnaces operational – an issue the proposed law seeks to address. The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill, as it is known, will enable the government to ‘direct’ steel companies in England, specifically to protect the Scunthorpe site. This move has been necessitated by reports that British Steel has ceased ordering raw materials for its furnaces. The new law would empower the government to mandate fresh orders. It’s important to note that British Steel has been deliberating several options for the closure of its blast furnaces and other operations, with up to 2,700 jobs hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, talks are ongoing between Jingye Group, the company’s owners, and the government about a support package to facilitate a transition to greener steelmaking.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
