Mr. Eddie Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will announce the names of the review body appointed to look at the closure proposals of the British Steel Corporation; and if he will define its terms of reference.
§ Mr. Benn,pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th May 1974; Vol. 873, c. 559], gave the following additional information:
In accordance with our election commitment I requested the British Steel Corporation, immediately on my taking office, to suspend all proposed closures of steelworks that were implicit in the development strategy agreed by the previous Government. I am now conducting the review of these closures. I have given primary responsibility for conducting the review to my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State, Lord Beswick, who will undertake the necessary consultations before final decisions are taken. I will, of course, proceed in the closest co-operation with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.
I have now discussed and agreed with the British Steel Corporation and the TUC Steel Committee the procedure for undertaking the review. It has been agreed that the closures should be reviewed case by case. Apart from two imminent closures, namely at Stanton and at Irlam, where ad hoc procedures have been followed, the review of each closure will begin by a tripartite meeting 232W consisting of representatives of the British Steel Corporation, of the TUC Steel Committee, including local trade union representatives designated by the committee, and of the Government. After this initial meeting, and while each side is considering the points at issue, the Minister of State will consult local Members of Parliament, local authorities and other appropriate bodies who have made representations to the Government. A further tripartite meeting will, if necessary, then take place following which I would hope to reach a decision on each closure proposal. Representatives of the Scottish Office and of the Welsh Office would be wholly associated with the discussions in respect of proposed closures in these areas.
In considering the order of cases for review priority will be given to closures whose dates are relatively imminent and to those which are implicit in BSC investment projects now before us for approval.. I have agreed with the corporation and the TUC Steel Committee that the proposed closures should be considered in the following order: Hartlepool iron and steel making and Cleveland iron making; Workington; Ebbw Vale; East Moors; Shelton and Bilston; Shotton: the Scottish closures; the proposed Redcar plate mill development and associated closures; other closures in England.
In the course of the review I shall look into the possibilty of raising BSC's long-term production target and at the possibility of other changes in BSC's general strategy providing for improvements to or alternative corporation activities at plants now proposed for closure. But one of the main emphases in the review will have to be on the provision of alternative job opportunities. I therefore propose to continue work on this while the review is going on. I shall aim for the maximum of consultation with those affected and I shall provide the necessary information to enable the outcome of the review to be properly assessed.