MP John Healey is to meet business minister Anna Soubry to put forward the case for steelmaking.

On the day Tata announced hundreds of job losses in Rotherham, Mr Healey wrote to the business secretary Sajid Javid requesting a meeting with ministers.

He told him: “Your government has pledged to help the UK’s manufacturing sector, and you will be aware of the vital role that steel plays as a foundation industry for our manufacturing base.

“There is an urgent need now to first see whether there is any alternative to these big proposed job losses, and second to see what can be done to safeguard the future of steelmaking in the UK, including in the proud steel town of Rotherham.”

Mr Javid has now replied, saying Ms Soubry was keen to discuss with Mr Healey what the government could do to help.

The meeting is expected to take place in September.