HC Deb 16 December 1959 vol 615 cc199-200W
Sir S. Summers

asked the Minister of Power what further steps have been taken to increase the supply of sheet steel in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Wood

The Iron and Steel Board have informed me that they have approved a proposal by Messrs. Richard Thomas and Baldwins Ltd., to accelerate the construction of the new plant at Llanwern near Newport and to modify and extend the scheme so as to increase the capacity of the plant by an additional 235,000 tons of cold reduced sheet per annum.

In order to enable the Company to carry out this project I have agreed, with the approval of the Treasury, to increase from £60 to £70 million the maximum amount of the loan which my Ministry is making to the Company under the Heads of Agreement dated 10th March, 1959.

The Llanwern plant is now expected to begin production in 1962.

I understand that the Iron and Steel Board are also considering proposals from other companies.