Written question asked by Lord Maples (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Marland (Conservative) on Monday, 6 June 2011.

Tata Steel

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department of Energy and Climate Change received any representations from Tata Steel about the costs of European Union and United Kingdom carbon legislation, before it announced the partial closure of its Scunthorpe steel plant; and whether they will publish any such representations from the company.

Answer: Ministers and officials at the Department for Energy and Climate Change and across Government are in regular contact with Tata Steel, UK Steel and other industry bodies on a range of issues and receive representations from time to time on a range of issues. Last year DECC worked closely with the steel industry and other industries covered by the EU Emissions Trading System when negotiating the free allocation rules for Phase III (2013-20) of the system. These rules maintain significant free allocation for steel and other industries at risk of carbon leakage. Similarly the department is in regular contact with industry representatives on the current simplification of climate change agreements which offer significant tax discounts to the steel industry. The department will continue, working closely with BIS, to discuss the impact of current and future climate and energy legislation with the steel industry and other energy intensive industrial sectors.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 9539; 728 c73WA
Session: 2010-12
Subjects: Costs Closures Iron and steel Pollution control Carbon emissions Scunthorpe Tata Steel
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk