§ Mr. BaileyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the change in scrap metal prices on the British cast metal industry. [159027]
§ Jacqui SmithI am aware of the difficulties that are being faced by UK cast metal producers as a result of rises in the world price of scrap metal and industry's concerns about the implications for competitiveness. It is widely accepted that the cause is soaring demand for steel in China and the knock-on effect on raw materials costs. We are monitoring developments and I will be meeting my hon. Friend the representatives of the cast metals industry later this month to discuss the situation further.