It has also led to growing uncertainty about the long-term wellbeing of the UK steel industry. Clear targets neededUnite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government must immediately develop clear targets on UK steel usage on publicly funded construction projects. In the case of HS2, UK producers should have a paramount place in producing steel for the project. You could not make it up.”This is a particularly critical time for the UK steel industry with order books not being full and the rising energy costs in danger of making UK steel uneconomic to produce. A further question by Mr Whitley further highlighted the DfT’s hands off attitude to HS2 purchasing UK steel.

Source: The Guardian January 03, 2022 16:29 UTC