MPs debate steel industry and junior doctors' contracts
28 October 2015 (updated on 28 October 2015)
MPs are to debate the steel industry in the House of Commons today, 28 October 2015. The debate is the first of two to take place this afternoon on subjects chosen by the Opposition.
Steel Industry
Motion for debate
The following motion has been tabled for debate:
"That this House believes that the UK steel industry is of national strategic importance and should be supported by the Government; notes that the UK steel industry is in crisis, and that the recent closure of SSI in Redcar has resulted in 2,000 direct job losses, with a further 1,000 contractors and 6,000 jobs in the local supply chain lost, the announcement by Tata Steel that they will no longer produce steel plate at Dalzell, Clydebridge and Scunthrope has resulted in 1,170 job losses, and that 1,700 jobs are at risk as Caparo Industries has gone into adminstration; recognises that for every direct steel job lost a further three indirect job losses will follow; further notes the vital importance of the steel industry to those local communities it serves, the proud industrial heritage of Britain's steel towns and the very real threat to these parts of the country should the steel industry disappear; and calls on the Government to take immediate action to protect the steel industry, including immediately implementing the Energy Intensive Industry Compensation Package, taking action with the EU Commission on anti-dumping measures, looking at temporary action on Business Rates, reviewing how regulatory frameworks impact the industry, and promoting local content and sustainability in procurement contacts, and for the Government to publish a full Industrial Strategy, including what level of capacity the Government envisages is needed in the steel industry, so as to safeguard this vital strategic asset."
The debate is expected to start at 12.50pm after Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development and the Ten Minute Rule Motion to be moved by Yvonne Fovargue MP, but may be later if any Urgent Questions or statements are granted on the day.
Timings are approximate as Parliamentary business is subject to change.
- Watch the debate on the steel industry live on Parliament TV
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Industry
- Read recent Parliament News stories: Industry
Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available three hours after they happen in Today’s Commons Debates.
Junior Doctors' Contracts
The second of today’s Opposition debates is on junior doctors' contracts.
Motion for debate
The following motion has been tabled for debate:
"That this House notes the stalled discussions between Government and the British Medical Association (BMA) about a new junior doctors' contract; opposes the removal of financial penalties from hospitals which protect staff from working excessive hours; urges the Government to guarantee that no junior doctor will have their pay cut as a result of a new contract; and calls upon the Government to withdraw the threat of contract imposition, put forward proposals which are safe for patients and fair for junior doctors and return to negotiations with the BMA."
The debate is expected to start following the above debate on the steel industry. Timings are approximate as Parliamentary business is subject to change.
- Watch the debate on junior doctors' contracts live on Parliament TV
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Health staff and professions
- Read recent Parliament News stories: Health staff and professions
Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available three hours after they happen in Today’s Commons Debates.
Related information
House of Commons Library analysis
The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs of key issues. The papers contain factual information and a range of opinions on each subject, and aim to be politically impartial. The Library has published the following briefing papers on the topics to be debated today.
- Read Library Briefing Paper: UK steel industry: statistics and policy
- Read Library Briefing Paper: Junior doctors' contracts in England
About Opposition day debates
Opposition days are days allocated in the House of Commons in each session for the discussion of subjects chosen by the Opposition.
Seventeen days are at the disposal of the Leader of the Opposition, the leader of the largest opposition party, to decide which matters are debated. Three days are usually divided between the other opposition parties.
The Opposition generally use them to raise questions of policy and administration. Frequently, two separate subjects are debated on an opposition day.
Watching Opposition day debates from the public gallery
UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery.
This article was produced by the Commons Digital Outreach Team. Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.