Llanwern Steel Works (Hansard, 11 January 2001)

§ Mr. Wigley
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he was first informed of the possible closure of the Llanwern steel works. [144878]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
I have been aware of widespread speculation on the subject over several months. However, Corus plc recently confirmed that no decision has been taken about the future of Llanwern.

§ Mr. Wigley
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact in terms of lost jobs of the closure of the Llanwern steel works by Corus plc. [144877]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
While Corus has made clear that it is looking at further restructuring, the company has not made any announcements about a possible closure of Llanwern. None the less, I am working with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and with the National Assembly for Wales, to assess the potential impacts in the event of changes to the structure of steel plants in Wales.
634W

§ Mr. Wigley
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to ensure that the Llanwern steel works are not closed. [144879]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I have held discussions with Corus plc at the highest level and will continue to do so. The Government are committed to helping the steel industry deal with the challenges of the fiercely competitive environment in which it operates and are working closely with industry representatives on a range of issues to help it to improve competitiveness and ensure its long term future.