§ 28. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will made a statement on the latest position in talks between the Government and owners of steel production companies. [149033]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe Government have had discussions with Corns on a wide range of issues and have assured the company of the Government's continuing support for the steel industry. In the period before Corus' recent announcement of 6,050 job cuts in the UK, the question of a package of support measures from the Government was raised with Corus, but the company made it clear that this would not change its decisions. The Government will continue to work with Corus and all parts of the steel industry to ensure the future competitiveness of the sector.
§ 29. Ms Dari TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to maintain and enhance steel production in Britain. [149034]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe steel industry is a vital part of UK manufacturing and the Government will continue to work closely with all parts of the industry to ensure its future competitiveness. The Government stand ready to work alongside Corus, the trade unions and the National Assembly for Wales to identify a way forward that builds on the strengths of the industry and secures a long-term future for it in the UK.
§ 31. Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with Corus plc about Government support for the steel industry. [149036]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe Government continue to talk to steel companies about a wide range of issues. Specifically in relation to Corus, the largest UK steel production company, the Government are continuing to press the company to engage in constructive dialogue with the trade unions and others affected by the 1 February announcement of 6,050 job cuts in the UK.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his oral statement of 1 February 2001,Official Report, column 458, on the steel industry, what powers he will use to require Corus to pay the costs of the clean-up of the sites affected by its decision to close plants. [149760]
§ Mr. MeacherI have been asked to reply.
276WWhere any land, including sites where an industry has closed, poses unacceptable risks to humans or the environment in the light of the current use of the site, local authorities and the Environment Agency (or, in Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency) have duties under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to enforce remediation. Those who have caused or knowingly permitted the pollution are liable to carry out that remediation. Ministers have only appellate powers. In Wales, the National Assembly exercises these ministerial powers.
When this new regime came into force, I wrote to top UK-registered companies asking about their plans to deal with contamination for which they are responsible, and was told by the chairman of Corus that they are committed to the economic redevelopment of brownfield sites.
We therefore look forward to learning of Corus' proposals for ensuring that the sites affected by any closures are appropriately remediated and brought rapidly back into beneficial economic use and do not become derelict.
§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss the restructuring of Corus. [150207]
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from Corus about the long-term future of steel production at the plants in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [150232]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 13 February 2001]: I have had discussions with senior representatives of Corus on a number of occasions when we have discussed, among other issues, the long-term future of steel production at plants in Wales, Scotland and England.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a breakdown by region of the job losses in the steel industry announced by Corus on 1 February; and if he will make a statement. [150229]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 13 February 2001]: Following Corus's announcements about its planned restructuring of the company, I made a full statement to the House on 1 February 2001.
A breakdown of job losses by business unit, indicating the location affected, based on information supplied by Corns is as follows.
277W
Plant/location Number of job losses Corus Strip, Llanwern, Wales 1,540 Corus Colours, Shotton, 319 Bryngwn, Wales 127 Corus Strip, Lackenby, Teesside 234 Corus Construction and Industrial Teesside 648 Scunthorpe 436 Dalzell, Scotland 2 Engineering Steels Rotherham 87 Stocksbridge 45 West Midlands and others 1258
Plant/location Number of job losses Construction and Industrial and Corus Engineering Steels Head Office/shared services (Teesside, Scunthorpe and Rotherham) 400 Stockholding (various locations) 1292 Rail, Workington 27 Special Profiles, Workington 46 Tubes Corby 141 Hartlepool/Stockton 142 West Midlands 15 Packaging Plus, Ebbw Vale 780 European Electrical Steels 2276 Special Strip Products Rotherham, Newport, West Midlands 235 Corporate Centre/Central Functions (various locations) 2200 1 Split across locations. 2 Split across locations, breakdown not known