A summit with key figures from the UK steel industry has agreed further detailed joint work is required within three major areas of the sector.

The meeting comes shortly after the closure of the SSI Redcar plant, while Tata Steel is due to reveal 1,200 job cuts next week.

Working groups chaired by government ministers will be set up to gather evidence and work through the following issues:

• Public procurement: to drive up the number of contracts won by UK steel manufacturers in fair and open competition.

• International comparisons: to consider what lessons can be learned from other countries in the EU and beyond.


• Competitiveness and productivity: to look at energy and environmental costs, business rates, regulation and what action industry can take to drive up their competitiveness including skills, training and maximising their assets.

In addition, the government has said it will continue to engage with the industry over the long-term vision and future for UK steel.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said there was "no straightforward solution" to the challenges facing the steel industry, but the summit was an opportunity to bring key figures together and establish a "framework of action".

"The government is committed to working closely with industry on both short-term and long-term issues and to doing everything we can to support both industry and the workers," he added:

Demand for steel worldwide has not returned to pre-crash levels, with demand for steel falling 1.7% in 2015 and rising by 0.7% in 2016.

In addition, the price of steel has halved over the past year.

(LM/CD)