Reynolds refuses to say if British Steel furnaces in Scunthorpe can keep running
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13 April 2025Sam FrancisPolitical reporterThe business secretary has refused to confirm if the government can get the sufficient raw material supplies in time to keep the blast furnaces at British Steel running, after it took control of the Chinese-owned plant.Emergency legislation was rushed through Parliament on Saturday to prevent owners Jingye shutting down its two blast furnaces in Scunthorpe.Asked if he could guarantee the furnaces would remain open, Jonathan Reynolds said he would not comment "on the commercial aspect of supply" but the takeover gave the "opportunity" to obtain the coal needed.The government said Jingye had been selling off raw materials, as well as not ordering more, before officials took control.Asked several times by Laura Kuenssberg on whether he was sure he would be able to get the supply of coal before current stocks run out, Reynolds insisted "I'm not going to get into that" but the takeover "was essential to maintaining steel production in the UK".Speaki...