The BIS Committee found that while the Government identified the steel industry as of vital importance, Whitehall did not have effective warning systems in place to detect and address mounting problems in the industry. The Committee also found that a lack of action at EU level, and a failure by UK Governments to push for EU action, helped leave the UK heavily exposed to Chinese dumping, a global oversupply of steel, and a ‘perfect storm’ of difficulties for the industry.
Witnesses Tor Farquhar, Group Human Resources Director, TATA Steel Europe, Luis Sanz, Chief Executive Officer, Celsa Steel UK, Gareth Stace, Director, UK Steel, Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary, Community Trade Union; Tom Blenkinsop MP, Chair, APPG Steel and metal related industries, Nia Griffith MP, Secretary, APPG Steel and metal related industries; and The Rt Hon Anna Soubry MP, Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise, Stuart Edwards, Deputy Director, Materials and Resource Industries, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills