Recommendation 15

The trade unions told us they would like the Department to learn lessons from the transition currently taking place in Tata Steel’s Port Talbot steelworks, which have switched off their blast furnaces while converting to electric arc furnaces. They said that any transition needs to ensure it protects jobs and communities and ensure it follows the timelines set out.41 Now that the intervention has ended the trade unions told us they will 35 C&AG’s Report, paras 4.2-4.4 36 Q 57 37 Q 49 38 British Steel statement made on 16 July 2026, Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament 39 Q 25 40 Q 26 41 Qq 22, 37, 38 13 return to discussing the decarbonisation plan options that they had initially set out to the current owner.42 There were a range of views from the trade union witnesses about the timeline for converting from blast to electric arc furnaces, which could range from three to ten years, depending on the options chosen.43 Involving key stakeholders in future discussions about British Steel