Government plans to fortify UK steelmaking were welcomed by John Healey as a crucial step to protect the proud industrial heritage in communities like Rotherham and grow the economy.

The Plan for Steel – launched by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds earlier this month – will look at the long-term issues facing the industry like high electricity costs, unfair trading practices, and scrap metal recycling to protect jobs and living standards in the UK’s industrial heartlands.

After years of neglect under the last Government, up to £2.5 billion will be put towards supporting the steel industry, including via the National Wealth Fund. This could benefit areas across the UK – like Rotherham and across South Yorkshire – which have a strong history of steel production. It will be spent on initiatives that will give the industry a long future – such as electric arc furnaces, or other improvements to UK capabilities.

The Plan is on top of delivering a better deal for Port Talbot within weeks of taking office which will transform production at Port Talbot and deliver a modern Electric Arc Furnace, and implementing the British Industry Supercharger which will cut electricity costs for steel firms and bring prices more in line with international competitors.

The Plan for Steel will help with the issues which have been holding the industry back for too long. It will look at ways to:

  • Identify where there are opportunities to expand UK steelmaking to better support UK manufacturing, construction, infrastructure and growth – and secure UK jobs and livelihoods
  • Protect the steel sector from unfair trading practices abroad
  • Improve our scrap processing facilities so they can best support the steel- making of the future
  • Encourage high usage of UK-made steel in public projects
  • Tackle the high electricity prices that have held back the competitiveness of UK steelworks.

Welcoming the Plan for Steel, Rawmarsh and Conisbrough MP, John Healey, said:

“During the election, I said that steel can have a bright future and that I would keep up the fight for UK steelmaking. Under the new government we are delivering on it with up to £2.5 billion of funding.

“The announcement of a Plan for Steel is fantastic news for Rotherham and further afield across South Yorkshire, making clear that we are putting the full weight of government behind the industry to protect our industrial heartlands, maintain jobs and drive local growth.

“I will always champion our proud local history of steelmaking and I will continue to work with the Government to make sure the Plan for Steel delivers what is needed for steel workers and communities across our area.”