Reynolds refuses to say if British Steel furnaces in Scunthorpe can keep running-OxBig News Network

The 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 an the “opportunity” to obtain the coal needed.

The government previously said Jingye had been selling off raw materials before officials took control of the plant.

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”.

Speaking on the programme, Reynolds said the situation remains “difficult and challenging”.

But Saturday’s emergency legislation “enables” the government to keep the blast furnaces working, he said. Once a blast furnace is switched off it becomes incredibly difficult to restart production.

“If we hadn’t acted the blast furnaces were gone and in the UK primary steel production would have gone,” he said.

“If we hadn’t acted, you’d be asking how we support the thousands who’ve lost their jobs.”

The Conservatives have criticised the government for not stepping in sooner to save the plant and protect jobs.

Speaking to the BBC, Tory shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith argued the government should fully nationalise British Steel to clear up any doubts about the future of the company.

The company has already “been nationalised” in “substance” by the emergency powers, he argued.