Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to classify steelworkers as key workers to ensure the maintenance of blast furnaces during the covid-19 outbreak.

During this time of unprecedented disruption, the Government has not asked all businesses to shut; it is important for businesses to carry on where possible. That being said, only those who cannot work from home should travel to workplaces – I recognise that this will include many steel workers.

The Government has provided updated, tailored guidance on social distancing; these and other measures should be implemented by employers in England to help protect their workforce from COVID-19, while still continuing their work. This guidance is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/social-distancing-in-the-workplace-during-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-guidance.

Public Health England have also issued guidance on how employers and businesses can continue to work safely, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19

The Department recently wrote to those working in the UK manufacturing industry, to restate the Government’s clear position that manufacturing is a critical part of our economy and that that there is no restriction on manufacturing continuing under the current rules, as long as social distancing measures are followed. A copy of this letter is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19

The Government is in regular contact with the UK steel sector on Covid-19, and we will continue to support them to mitigate the impact.