Industry Minister commits to meeting council's leader on steel and local economy

SARAH JONES MP MADE PROMISE DURING AN UPDATE TO PARLIAMENT

- By IVAN MORRIS POXTON Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

A MINISTER has committed to meeting North Lincolnshire Council’s leader to discuss a strategy on steel and the local economy.

Industry Minister Sarah Jones MP made the apparent commitment during an update to Parliament last week on British Steel.

It came as the company, now under directional control by the Government, announced the end of its redundancies consultation without any action. Up to 2,700 jobs had been at risk.

This short to medium-term uncertainty is now over, and fresh raw mate-rials also secured for Scunthorpe’s furnaces. Local MPs welcomed the end of the redundancies consultation. Martin Vickers MP (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham) said it was “extremely welcome” and “the steel community will breathe a sigh of relief”.

Melanie Onn MP (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) praised Scunthorpe’s MP, Sir Nic Dakin (Labour), for his “tireless advocacy” for the steelworks. The town’s MP was also singled out for praise in a recent statement by British Steel’s interim chief executive officer, Allan Bell.