Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what actions they are taking to improve the quality and consistency of sorted scrap metal to meet increased demand for future electric arc furnace steelmaking in the UK.

The Steel Strategy, announced on 19 March 2026, sets out the creation of a cross-government group consisting of DBT, DEFRA, DESNZ, other departments and devolved governments. The group will evaluate proposals and engage representatives from industry, unions, academia, and other stakeholders across the market, to ensure a sustainable supply of high-quality scrap for the domestic steel sector.

The Group will take into account that the UK demand for scrap could grow to 6.7m tonnes, whilst UK supply is around 10-11m tonnes a year.