asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now issue a general direction to the British Steel Corporation not to close any steel works which are capable of becoming modern mini-steel plants.

To give such a direction would be quite unrealistic, and in any case the timing and location of closures are matters which fall within the responsibilities of the British Steel Corporation.

Is it not ridiculous to close steel plants at a time of grave steel shortage? May it not be that the Government's estimates of future steel demand as are as far out as past forecasts of coal demand?

No, Sir. The hon. Gentleman should know that there is no closure taking place now where there is a shortage of supply of any of the products produced by the plant concerned.

Will the Minister take seriously the question put to him with reference to the steel shortage, since what is now proposed could mean serious redundancies in some of the steel producing areas? Will he recognise also that many of the steel pipes for oil are coming from Japan, and if the so-called antiquated mills were brought up to modern requirements the necessary pipes could be produced in this country?

I think that I answered the first point in reply to the question put by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Golding). On the second point, the standard of quality of pipe required for use under the North Sea is such that the British Steel Corporation has had great difficulty in matching the specification. However, where the pipeline has come on land in Scotland, the corporation has been immensely successful.