§ 38. Mr. Richard Pageasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what percentage the British Steel Corporation has reduced capacity since 1979; and how that compares with the rest of the European Economic Community steel producers.
§ Mr. ButcherThe British Steel Corporation's capacity to produce hot-rolled finished steel products is now 22.8 per cent. lower than on 31 December 1979. No up-to-date comparable analysis is available for producers in other European Community countries. However, these steel producers have made net capacity reductions since 1980 and their Governments have given commitments to make more reductions by the end of 1985, which, taken together, amount to about 16.1per cent. of those producers' 1980 capacity. I shall write to my hon. Friend as further information becomes available.