Commenting on the Government announcement to approve HS2, UK Steel Director General, Gareth Stace, said:

“We welcome the Government’s decision to press ahead with HS2 in full, and today we are calling on the Government to ensure that the benefits of this multi-billion pound project are felt in all four corners of the United Kingdom, by maximising the opportunities to use high-quality UK steel products.

“It is estimated that HS2 will use 2 million tonnes of steel over the next 10 years and the UK’s steel producers stand ready to supply the steel for the new track, rolling stock, tunnels, bridges and much more besides. The use of UK made steel for HS2 would support over 2,000 jobs, and deliver £1.5 billion to the UK economy – ensuring the benefits of this project are not just felt along the route, but in steel communities across the UK.

“Last May, the steel industry, with BEIS support, launched the UK Steel Charter, a new initiative that will drive-up the use of UK produced steel in public projects. We firmly believe that where projects are paid for from the public purse, there is a duty to maximise the benefits to the UK in terms of jobs, skills and economic growth; the use of UK steel will do just this. We now call on HS2 and the Transport Department to sign up to the Charter and ensure that this multi-billion pound project benefits steel communities across the UK.”

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