§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the number of mini steelworks in the United Kingdom together with those approved and their locations, indicating which are privately held and which are owned by the British Steel Corporation.
§ Mr. MeacherSince the repeal of Section 15 of the Iron and Steel Act 1967 with effect from 1st January 1973, Government authorisation has not been required for steel-making projects by private sector steel companies, but outside the development areas industrial development certificates are necessary for new projects above the current exemption limits. From published information the following companies have announced their intention to proceed with mini steelworks projects—that is, those incorporating 331W electric are steel-making and continuous casting:
Company and Location
- Hall Engineering, Birkenhead.
- Elkem Spigerverket, Manchester.
- GKN, Cardiff.
- Lloyd Cooper, Dudley.
- Sheerness Steel, Sheerness, Phase I (already in operation).
- Cosmex Corporation. Newport, Mon.
- Cambois Rebar Co., Blyth.
The British Steel Corporation has no plants within the generally accepted definition and its proposals for new electric are furnaces are outlined in the White Paper on the corporation's 10-year development strategy—Cmnd. 5226.