Halesowen & Rowley Regis MP, James Morris, has been taking a leading role in helping to protect local jobs in the crisis hit Caparo steel company and to develop a plan for the industries future, in order to provide job security for workers.
Since Caparo went into administration MP James Morris has been holding talks with senior Government ministers, local business groups and took part in the inaugural Midlands Steel Taskforce summit.
The Midland Steel Taskforce group has been set up by Birmingham City University’s Institute for Design and Economic Acceleration. The inaugural meeting on Friday 23rd October saw leading academics, policymakers and business leaders come together to create a co-ordinated plan of action. The group called for immediate action to support steel producers working with the EU Commission and European partners to review competition measures, quality standards, including health & safety, and environmental standards, energy pricing and acting at national and regional levels to develop a series of measures supported by working groups providing evidence and industry insights.
Ideas from the summit have been presented to Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, by James Morris MP, who requested the meeting following Caparo going into administration.
Following the meeting Sajid Javid MP said, “James has ensured that the voice of the steel industry and other groups has been brought to the heart of Government. I have listened to the views of the Midland Steel Taskforce, which James has presented to me, and I will take these on board as we continue our work to support the steel industry and protect local jobs.”
The Business Secretary will call for an emergency EU meeting to discuss the state of the steel sector across Europe and has announced that the steel industry will be given additional time to meet European emissions targets.
MP James Morris said, “There is no straightforward solution to these complex global challenges, but I am determined to do what I can locally to help protect vital jobs and an important industry in Black Country manufacturing. We cannot stand by while the steel industry across Europe, not just in the UK, faces such unprecedented challenges.”