§ Mr. Crowtherasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates have been made of the cost (a) to the British Steel Corporation and (b) to the Government of the proposed closure of the Tinsley Park melting shop and billet mill.
§ Mr. ButcherThe estimated costs are a commercial matter for the British Steel Corporation. They can be met from within the corporation's existing external financing limit.
§ Mr. Crowtherasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether the Phoenix II proposals jointly submitted by the British Steel Corporation and G.K.N. in December 1983, included the closure of the Tinsley Park melting shop and billet mill;
(2) by what percentage the estimated excess capacity of the plants included in the Phoenix II proposals would be reduced by the closure of the Tinsley Park melting shop and billet mill.
§ Mr. ButcherThe Phoenix II proposals are still under consideration. The details of the plants concerned and any proposed changes in capacity must remain commercially confidential to BSC and GKN, but I can say that the intended closure of Tinsley Park as announced by BSC would be consistent with the Phoenix II proposals.