UK WILL HAVE TOMORROW FIRST MEETING ABOUT CRISIS IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY

The first meeting of a government-convened group aimed at tackling the crisis in the steel industry will be held on this Wednesday.

The Steel Council will bring together Business Secretary Sajid Javid, trade group UK Steel and representatives of industry, unions and devolved administrations.

Ministers said the council will look at “how we address long-term issues for the steel sector with industry and government working together”.

A summit was held last year after steel firms started cutting huge numbers of jobs, blaming cheap Chinese imports and high energy costs.

Dave Hulse, national officer of the GMB union said: “We are looking for real progress being made with the formulation of this new group.

“Since the steel summit last October things have been moving at a very slow pace.

“We have gone from crisis to crisis and we really need to see action now otherwise GMB fears for the long term future of the steel industry.”

Last night in the Commons, a Labour motion calling on the Government to support tougher EU action on dumping of cheap steel and to publish an industrial strategy, was defeated by 288 votes to
239 – majority 49.