asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the outcome of the recent European Economic Community Ministers meeting on steel production; and what will be its impact on the level of production of the British steel industry in general, and more specifically the special steel industry of Sheffield.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) on 23 March at column 23. I would expect additional steel closures in continental Europe, if achieved, to benefit the United Kingdom steel industry as a whole, including firms in Sheffield.