News: 1998

Eddie George, Governor of the Bank of England, was the guest speaker at our Annual Forum Lunch on 2nd December 1998. Texts are available of Eddie George's speech and the introductory remarks by Michael Robson, UK Steel President.

Press release issued following UK Steel's Annual Forum on 2nd December 1998.

Extracts from UK Steel's President's speech to our Annual General Meeting on 2nd December 1998.

Press Release: 23rd November 1998. Commenting on filing by Eurofer of anti-dumping complaint against imports from Bulgaria, India, Iran, South Africa, Taiwan and Yugoslavia.

Briefing issued to UK MPs. Covers the market situation, the severe problems caused by the import surge, the need to end the electricity price rip-off, and much more.

Briefing issued to British Members of the European Parliament on 14th October 1998. Also covers global warming, the End of Life Vehicles Directive and the expiry of the ECSC Treaty.

Press release reacting to quarter per cent reduction in interest rates.

Press release reporting results of a survey demonstrating the success of the UK steel industry's education programme in changing teachers' opinion about the steel industry.

UK Steel has commissioned a report from the independent Centre for Economics and Business Research which demonstrates the UK steel industry's productivity achievements and contribution to the UK economy. This success story is being put at risk by the overvalued Pound. The report goes on to suggest alternative economic strategies for the government to pursue.

The results are summarised in a Press Release issued on 23rd June. Additionally, the full CEBR Report can be downloaded in Word format.

On 19th May 1998, UK Steel's Policy Director gave a speech to the EuroSteel 98 Conference in London on the implications for the EU steel industry of the expiry of the ECSC in 2002 and of EU enlargement to the east; and the UK steel industry's policies. A copy of this speech and accompanying slides can be downloaded.

In April 1998 UK Steel issued a Parliamentary Briefing highlighting the problems that the over-valued pound was causing UK manufacturing and the steel industry in particular, and urging the government to act before plants started to be closed.

UK Steel made written representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20th February on what measures he should include in his March 1998 Budget. A subsequent Parliamentary Briefing based in this letter is available here.