§ 2. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has had any recent discussions with the chairman of the British Steel Corporation concerning future investment at Llanwern steelworks.
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Nicholas Edwards)I met the chairman most recently in February for a wide-ranging discussion.
§ Mr. HughesWill the Secretary of State confirm that no concast project has been authorised for the 1985–86 financial year? Is this not a poor reward for the record breaking performance at Llanwern in recent years? Bearing in mind all the delays that have occurred, will the right hon. Gentleman seek an urgent meeting with the corporation's chairman to ensure that this project is given the go-ahead without delay and that resources are provided for it?
§ Mr. EdwardsThe hon. Gentleman implied that the steel corporation had decided not to go ahead with concast during that financial year. The chairman has made it clear to me that he is very much aware of the importance of concast. We discussed the thorough consideration which the British Steel Corporation is giving to the way in which future investment will take place. Decisions on the corporate plan for that financial year have not been taken.
§ Mr. GristWill my right hon. Friend hazard a guess as to how much of the investment in Llanwern has been endangered, or at the very least delayed, by the recent miners' strike?
§ Mr. EdwardsThe BSC chairman recently estimated the cost of the strike for the BSC in 1984–85 to be £175 million. It is too early to judge the final figure, but that money could have been used to reduce losses, to reach profitability sooner and to provide the sort of investment which the Labour party has just urged on us. Of course, throughout that strike the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) encouraged the miners.