UK’s steel worker’s Unite union has demanded that the British Government sets clear targets for the use of UK-produced steel in the HS2 rail project. Unite said the UK’s exit from the European Union should have made it easier for the government to ensure that British products were used in infrastructure projects. Unite General Secretary Ms Sharon Graham said “The government must immediately develop clear targets on UK steel usage on publicly funded construction projects. In the case of HS2, UK producers should have a paramount place in producing steel for the project. Surely that is economic common sense? This failure of the government’s procurement policies will be challenged by my union. You could not make it up.”Unite national officer for steel Mr Harish Patel said “Steel is a key foundation industry and it is absolutely essential that it receives practical support from the government. That should start with ensuring that government funded project always purchase UK steel whenever possible. It brings into question yet again whether the government is really serious about leveling up or if it is simply a sound bite.”Questions over HS2’s sourcing came in October after it emerged that the French firm Sendin had supplied the project with more than 2,000 tonnes of steel. At the time HS2 said its contractor had approached all suitable alternative UK suppliers, but none could provide the necessary product in time.UK’s Department for Transport has recently revealed that currently there are no guidelines for using steel made in Britain in HS2 rail project. UK’s Transport Minister Mr Andrew Stephenson, while responding to questions in parliament posted by Labor MPs in December, has admitted there is no formal target for the use of UK steel in HS2 rail project construction. Mr Stephenson said “HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport are committed to working with the UK steel industry to ensure it is engaged, informed and prepared to seize the contract opportunities that will be generated by HS2.”HS2 is a new high speed railway that will form the backbone of Britain’s transport network. It will connect towns and cities in the South, Midlands and North with faster, easier and more reliable travel that will put more opportunities within reach for millions of people for work, business and leisure. The construction of the new railway is split into three phases:Phase One linking London and the West MidlandsPhase 2a linking the West Midlands and the North via CrewePhase 2b completing the railway to Manchester, the East Midlands and the NorthDespite cuts to the original plan, HS2 is still a major part of the UK’s GBP 96 billion integrated rail plan and will be the largest building project in Europe, requiring millions of tonnes of steel to build the tracks, stations and tunnels.
UK’s steel worker’s Unite union has demanded that the British Government sets clear targets for the use of UK-produced steel in the HS2 rail project. Unite said the UK’s exit from the European Union should have made it easier for the government to ensure that British products were used in infrastructure projects. Unite General Secretary Ms Sharon Graham said “The government must immediately develop clear targets on UK steel usage on publicly funded construction projects. In the case of HS2, UK producers should have a paramount place in producing steel for the project. Surely that is economic common sense? This failure of the government’s procurement policies will be challenged by my union. You could not make it up.”Unite national officer for steel Mr Harish Patel said “Steel is a key foundation industry and it is absolutely essential that it receives practical support from the government. That should start with ensuring that government funded project always purchase UK steel whenever possible. It brings into question yet again whether the government is really serious about leveling up or if it is simply a sound bite.”Questions over HS2’s sourcing came in October after it emerged that the French firm Sendin had supplied the project with more than 2,000 tonnes of steel. At the time HS2 said its contractor had approached all suitable alternative UK suppliers, but none could provide the necessary product in time.UK’s Department for Transport has recently revealed that currently there are no guidelines for using steel made in Britain in HS2 rail project. UK’s Transport Minister Mr Andrew Stephenson, while responding to questions in parliament posted by Labor MPs in December, has admitted there is no formal target for the use of UK steel in HS2 rail project construction. Mr Stephenson said “HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport are committed to working with the UK steel industry to ensure it is engaged, informed and prepared to seize the contract opportunities that will be generated by HS2.”HS2 is a new high speed railway that will form the backbone of Britain’s transport network. It will connect towns and cities in the South, Midlands and North with faster, easier and more reliable travel that will put more opportunities within reach for millions of people for work, business and leisure. The construction of the new railway is split into three phases:Phase One linking London and the West MidlandsPhase 2a linking the West Midlands and the North via CrewePhase 2b completing the railway to Manchester, the East Midlands and the NorthDespite cuts to the original plan, HS2 is still a major part of the UK’s GBP 96 billion integrated rail plan and will be the largest building project in Europe, requiring millions of tonnes of steel to build the tracks, stations and tunnels.
