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Departmental Contingent Liability Notification

My hon Friend the Minister for Industry (Chris McDonald MP) has today made the following statement.

I wish to make members aware of the details of a contingent liability guarantee, which will be entered into in favour of SEFE in accordance with and pursuant to the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 to support British Steel Limited and for the purpose of securing the continued and safe use of blast furnace operation in Scunthorpe.

The guarantee will replace the existing credit support, be of the same value, is a policy requirement for SEFE, and would be in respect of British Steel Limited's payment obligations to SEFE. Without such guarantee, SEFE would not extend the underlying supply contract with British Steel Limited, leaving British Steel Limited unable to access a key supply or British Steel Limited would only be able to do so on materially worse terms.

The terms of the guarantee ensure that the impact to the public purse is reduced. The guarantee may be terminated by the Department by providing SEFE with 10 Business Days’ written notice. The effective date of the guarantee is 31 March 2026.

Authority for any expenditure required under this liability will be sought through the normal procedure. I will be laying a Departmental Minute today containing a description of the liability undertaken.

If, during the period of fourteen Parliamentary sitting days a member signifies an objection by giving notice of a Parliamentary Question or by otherwise raising the matter in Parliament, final approval to proceed with incurring the liability will be withheld pending an examination of the objection.