HC Deb 22 April 1991 vol 189 cc338-9W
Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has submitted additional evidence to the Select Committee on Trade and Industry on British Steel since 25 March.

Mr. Allan Stewart

On 27 March my right hon. Friend sent the Chairman of the Select Committee a copy of the final report on the Arthur D. Little study on the prospects for the steel industry in Scotland. My right hon. Friend has not submitted any evidence as such to the Committee since 25 March.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he last met the European Commissioner, Sir Leon Brittan, to discuss the steel industry; and if he will make a detailed statement on those discussions;

(2) if he will publish a minute of his meeting of 25 March with Sir Leon Brittan in so far as it concerns the Scottish steel industry;

(3) what information he received from Sir Leon Brittan on 25 March with regard to the European Commission's attitude to a potential sale of the Ravenscraig and Clydesdale steel works; and if he will make a statement;

(4) what information he has received from the European Commissioner, Sir Leon Brittan, relating to statements made by Sir Robert Scholey concerning the attitude of the Commission to a possible sale of Ravenscraig and Clydesdale steel works.

Mr. Allan Stewart

My right hon. Friend met Sir Leon on 25 March. It was a private meeting at which a number of subjects were dismissed and my right hon. Friend does not intend to make a detailed statement. But one of the subjects was steel; Sir Leon was able to confirm the Commission's view that any refusal by British Steel to offer the Ravenscraig hot strip mill for sale to a European competitor did not amount to abuse of a dominant position. The Commission was not able to take a view on any proposed sale of the mill until it received a specific application. However, as my right hon. Friend indicated to the Select Committee on 12 December, he is not aware of any powers that the Commission has to prevent the mill from being sold and continuing in production within the Community.