ELECTRICITY PRICE INCREASES AND THE STEEL INDUSTRY

Motion Text

That this House recognises the crucial importance of manufacturing industry to any long-term and consistent recovery of the British economy and, in particular, the important role which should be played by a competitive and efficient steel industry; therefore notes with extreme concern electricity price increases ranging from 20 to 40 per cent. which have been imposed on many steel producers in April and May of this year, increases which will substantially disadvantage, in particular, those special steel producers using electric arc furnaces; and demands that the enquiries now being carried out by OFFER are concluded with the utmost speed, leading to a decision to reverse these extreme increases and ensure that British industry can compete on an equitable basis with its foreign competitors.