HC Deb 16 December 1985 vol 89 cc24-5W

Sir John Osborn asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the tonnage and value of bulk steels, special alloy stainless engineering and tool steels, respectively, in total, manufactured and used in the United Kingdom in 1975, 1980 and 1985, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Butcher

The following is the available information:

United Kingdom Producers Deliveries
'000 tonnes
*1976 1980 1984 1985
Ordinary steels 14,626 9,221 11,072 8,542
Special steels† 1,686 1,293 1,566 1,215
of which
engineering steel 976 742 665 532
tool steel 13 13 6 4
TOTAL STEEL 16,312 10,514 12,638 9,757

United Kingdom Steel Consumption of Finished Steel Products
million tonnes
1976 1980 4'198311 ║1985
Ordinary steel 14.50 11.47 10.31 n/a
Special steel 1.67 1.30 1.31 n/a
TOTAL STEEL 16.17 12.77 11.62 8.51

Sources: Total steel consumption from the Department of Trade and Industry inquiry, all other figures are from the Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.

* Comparable figures for special steel are not available prior to 1976. Total steel deliveries in 1975 were 15,353 thousand tonnes.

† As defined in Euronorm 20–74.

‡ 1983 is the latest year for which estimates of consumption of special steel are available.

[...]January to September.