§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the total volume of steel produced in the United Kingdom in the first nine months of 1986; and how this compares with the position for the first nine months of 1985 and 1979;
(2) what was the total volume of steel produced in 1985; and how he expects production in 1986 to compare with that figure.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe available information is as follows. Production in first nine months of 1986 was depressed by the scheduled relining of the Redcar blast furnace at the British Steel Corporation's Teeside Works. This furnace returned to normal operations in September.
Total crude steel production in United Kingdom Thousand tonnes (calendar years) (first 9 months) 1979 1985 1986 1979 1985 1986 21,464 15,722 (a) 16,112 11,860 10,603 (a) No estimate available for full year.
Source: British Steel Corporation and British Independent Steel Producers' Association.