Government officials will this week fly to China in an effort to convince the owner of British Steel to finalise plans for a state funding package amid hundreds of job cuts at the company.
Sky News has learnt that civil servants from the Department for Business and Trade are travelling to meet executives from Jingye Group amid protracted talks about a £300m grant to the Scunthorpe-based company.
Sources said the talks were expected to focus on the value of an energy subsidy package, which could take the overall value of government support for British Steel to approximately £1bn.
It comes just days after Kemi Badenoch, the new business and trade secretary, told Sky News’ economics and data editor, Ed Conway, that “nothing is ever a given” when asked whether Britain needed a steel industry.
A government spokesperson said: “The government recognises the vital role that steel plays within the UK economy, supporting local jobs and economic growth and is committed to securing a decarbonised, sustainable and competitive future for the UK steel sector.
“Government officials are engaging with Jingye regularly as part of the ongoing discussions with the company and our routine work with businesses across the steel sector.
“The Business and Trade Secretary considers the success of the steel sector a priority and continues to work closely with industry to achieve this.”
From: Sky news
英国钢铁公司在斯肯索普的工厂
政府官员将于本周飞往中国，试图说服英国钢铁公司的所有者在该公司裁员数百人的情况下敲定国家资助计划。
天空新闻获悉，商业和贸易部的公务员正在前往会见敬业集团的高管，他们正在就向这家总部位于斯肯索普的公司提供 3 亿英镑的拨款进行旷日持久的谈判。
消息人士称，预计会谈将重点讨论能源补贴计划的价值，这可能会使政府对英国钢铁公司的支持总额达到约 10 亿英镑。
就在几天前，新任商业和贸易大臣凯米·巴德诺克在被问及英国是否需要钢铁工业时告诉天空新闻的经济和数据编辑埃德·康威，“没有什么是既定的”。
一位政府发言人表示：“政府认识到钢铁在英国经济中发挥的重要作用，支持当地就业和经济增长，并致力于确保英国钢铁行业实现脱碳、可持续和有竞争力的未来。
“政府官员定期与敬业进行接触，作为与该公司正在进行的讨论以及我们与整个钢铁行业企业的日常工作的一部分。
“商业和贸易部长认为钢铁行业的成功是首要任务，并将继续与业界密切合作以实现这一目标。”
来源：Sky news
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