HC Deb 09 December 1974 vol 883 cc8-9
6. Mr. Peter Morrison

asked the Secreary of State for Industry if he will now make a statement as to the future of the steel-making process at the Shotton steelworks.

Mr. Meacher

As I told the hon. Member on 4th November, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State is carefully considering the many representations made to him. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

Mr. Morrison

Is the Minister aware that further delays like this will not do and that such delays can only give the impression that he and the Government could not care less about the personal worries of families who, depending on the Government's decision, might or might not have a job?

Mr. Meacher

I think that the workers at Shotton, as elsewhere, who were left with the prospect of 6,000 redundancies if the steel plans that were approved by the last Government went ahead, will be be only too grateful if there is some delay, provided that there is some remission later.

Mr. Golding

Is the Minister aware that his noble Friend raised the expectation that there would be an announcement this year and that if the steel workers are not to hear the announcement this year they should be told how long it will be before they can have the decision?

Mr. Meacher

I fully appreciate the anxieties which are felt about an early decision, but a large mass of conflicting evidence has been put before my noble Friend in the course of his inquiries and there are a great deal of interconnections in the general steel strategy, involving the Scottish closures, to which my right noble Friend is now turning his urgent attention.