Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Lloyd of Effra on 9 March (HL14773), what assessment they have made of whether the blast furnaces at Scunthorpe steelworks are critical national security assets.

The Government has reviewed the role of the Scunthorpe steelworks in contributing to the UK's national security including critical national infrastructure. The Government maintains that securing the continued operation of British Steel's assets is a necessary investment in our national interests and wider economic resilience.

Funding for British Steel is subject to the usual government approval processes and ministerial decisions and the need for HMG support is kept under review. All efforts are being made to secure a viable future for the company. All support for British Steel has been drawn from existing HMG budgets.

British Steel remains in the ownership of Jingye and estimated costs should the blast furnaces need to be decommissioned is commercially sensitive information. We continue to work with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of British Steel.

The £104 million detailed for other operational expenses will be reflected in the Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025-26. The accounts will be prepared on a basis consistent with government financial reporting standards.

British Steel are responsible for ensuring all tax liabilities and obligations pursuant to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme are met. Under the Companies Act 2006, the responsibility to produce accounts belongs to company directors.