§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider introducing legislation to enable his Department to make subsidy payments to assist the British Steel Corporation to offset the social costs of removing or closing down plant; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanNo. The Government consider that such subsidy payments would not be appropriate. Redundancy payments are, of course, payable to those affected by steel plant closures. Further assistance will be available from ECSC readaptation funds which, as I announced on 23 rd May, we propose to negotiate for workers in the steel industry.—[Vol. 837, c. 1259.]