Contributions
518 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCritical Minerals ProgrammeToday I am announcing the scope of the Government’s new £50 million critical minerals programme, first announced in the UK’s critical minerals strategy last year. In line with the…22 Jun 2026HANSARD British Coal Staff Superannuation SchemeMy hon. Friend is right to raise this issue, and it fits very much with the point I was making about the age profile. I assure her that I am acutely aware of how many miners,…22 Jun 2026HANSARD British Coal Staff Superannuation SchemeI am extremely pleased that my hon. Friend has raised that issue, because I know that it concerns members of, particularly, the mineworkers’ pension scheme and people in those…22 Jun 2026HANSARD British Coal Staff Superannuation SchemeI thank my hon. Friend very much for his good wishes. Perhaps I can return the favour by thanking the hon. Member for Ashfield (Lee Anderson) and my hon. Friends the Members for…22 Jun 2026HANSARD British Coal Staff Superannuation SchemeI start by acknowledging the debt of gratitude that our country owes to our miners and our mining communities. I particularly wish to take this opportunity to note that this year…22 Jun 2026HANSARDBritish SteelThe Government committed to updating Parliament on British steel every four sitting weeks for the duration of the period of special measures being applied under the Steel Industry…18 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsI can go further than understanding and offer some practical advice, if that is helpful. The first thing to check is whether the steels that the hon. Member mentions are made, or…17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsI should be happy to meet the hon. Lady and representatives of businesses in her area. As the Minister for Industry, I am responsible for ensuring that we have adequate productive…17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsI am familiar with the issue of kitchenware, which is very similar to some of the other issues that have been raised. If a particular kind of steel falls within a tariff area, not…17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsThere are issues with category 1, and I am looking at that. As I mentioned before, the uncertainty is unfortunate, but my hon. Friend will understand why it is there. I am aware…17 Jun 2026HANSARDPrivate Sector Investment: LancashireI am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to close this debate on behalf of the Government. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Maya Ellis) for securing this…17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsI thank my hon. Friend for the strong work that she has done advocating for businesses in her area. Across the whole west midlands, there has been strong support from west…17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsI have just been alerted to the fact that I said the current measures will expire on 30 July. It is actually on 30 June. It was hopefully correct in the context, but I am happy to…17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsThe issue there is category 14, because we want to protect the stainless production that we have in the UK. I am not particularly familiar with exhaust systems manufacturing, but…17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsIf it was simple, we would do it. Of course, it is not that simple, because, as I have described, the category groupings for steels are much broader than individual grids. There…17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsAs soon as the measures are finalised, the Minister for Trade, my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda and Ogmore (Chris Bryant), will want to report them to the House in the usual…17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsPerhaps I could address the point about the phrase “could be made”, which I think is at the nub of what the hon. Member is saying. The issue here is latent capacity in the UK.…17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsMy hon. Friend mentions categories 14 and 27, and perhaps her businesses could share their views with me. She says that we must communicate better. I am absolutely determined to…17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsI shall be happy to meet businesses in Northern Ireland, as I have met businesses throughout the United Kingdom.17 Jun 2026HANSARDSteel TariffsI can give a specific example, if that would be helpful. A number of Members have mentioned the specific situation in Canada, for instance, and I have looked carefully at the…17 Jun 2026