A number of people have been asking about the future of Scunthorpe steel works following the recent announcement by Tata on the future of their UK operations.
As many of you will be aware, I have been working closely with everyone involved; including Tata, the Council, Ministers and local MPs etc, to support workers and the future of this site.
This latest announcement, however, does not relate to Scunthorpe, which Tata had already decided to sell. Ministers have made clear that all options remain on the table to secure the future of the UK steel industry, but any financial support from government would sadly have to comply with the very strict EU rules on state support for industry.
In terms of Scunthorpe, Ministers and Martin Vickers MP and I continue to do all we can to support the sale of the site. We have met the potential buyers and the Government has said it is prepared to offer financial support and guarantees to help secure the site.
This effort is ongoing and I will update residents whenever possible. What I can say at the moment is that the Prime Minister has made it perfectly clear that steel production at Scunthorpe is of strategic importance.
The announcement this week about Tata’s wider UK operations is very sad for all those affected but I can confirm that we are continuing to work hard to do all that is possible to support Scunthorpe.
You can read my previous updates here:
http://www.andrewpercy.org/…/1118-scunthorpe-steel-site-upd…
http://www.andrewpercy.org/news/1097-steel-update
http://www.andrewpercy.org/news/1082-scunthorpe-steel-works
Photo - Andrew, Baroness Redfern, Martin Vickers MP and Nic Dakin MP meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss Scunthorpe steel works
