§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions during the past 12 months he has visited Corns steel works in Wales. [144873]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 11 January 2001]: I visited the Llanwern plant on 8 October 1999 and keep in regular contact with the company and the trade unions representing the work force.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on other industrial sectors of the closure of Llanwern steel plant. [144881]
12W
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 11 January 2001]: I am aware that Corus is considering further restructuring. Naturally we are assessing the consequences of a change to the structure of steel plants in Wales.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the National Assembly for Wales on the impact of the Government's industrial policy on the prospects of the steel industry in Wales. [144875]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 11 January 2001]: I have had several discussions with my right hon. Friend for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan), First Secretary for the National Assembly for Wales, in recent months on a range of issues concerning the steel industry in Wales. I continue to keep in close touch with him on this important issue.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the European Commission for special dispensations to help the survival of the UK steel industry. [144880]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 11 January 2001]: My Department is in touch with the European Commission about ways in which the steel industry can be assisted which meet the criteria of the Steel Aid Code of the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the impact on the UK's balance of trade of the closure of Llanwern steel works. [144882]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 11 January 2001]: Corus figures for export are available only by product and not individual plant.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the UK steel industry's(a) imports and (b) exports were for the last year for which figures are available. [144883]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 11 January 2001]: Imports and exports for the tariff headings which most closely align with products of the steel industry during 1999, which is the last full year for which figures are available, were:
Imports Exports 1999 6,915 17,624 1 Thousand tonnes Figures for the whole of 2000 are not yet available. Imports and exports of steel industry products in the first nine months of 2000, compared to the same period in 1999 were:
Imports Exports 20001 5,567 5,642 19991 4,953 5,813 1 To September 2 Thousand tonnes