§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the tonnage of steel imported from and exported to the European Economic Community in 1983 and 1970, respectively; and if he will provide corresponding figures for the rest of the world.
§ Mr. ButcherThe following is the information: 533W
United Kingdom trade in steel industry products '000 tonnes 1970 1983 EC *countries Non-EC countries EC countries Non-EC countries Imports from 642 1,601 2,363 982 Exports to 734 3,108 1,475 2,450 Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau compiled from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise statistics. * Including Denmark, Greece and Ireland.
§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on rationalisation of the engineering steels sector.
§ Mr. Norman LamontMy right hon. Friend and I met the Chairmen of BSC and GKN on 21 February 1984, to discuss proposals (known as Phoenix 2) jointly agreed and submitted by the companies for rationalisation of the United Kingdom engineering steels sector.
At this meeting the Chairmen presented proposals to create an internationally competitive engineering steels industry by bringing together the public and private sectors. The proposals involve additional investment and some further rationalisation of capacity.
My right hon. Friend and I welcomed the proposals and the prospect of improving competitiveness in this sector to secure the future of the industry within the private sector. The Government will now give detailed consideration to these proposals including the competition policy aspects.