The energy minister Charles Hendry has promised that he will look into taking action in an attempt to deal with iron and steel metal thefts after a parliamentary debate started by Labour MP Graham Jones highlighted the problems.

Hendry said an inter-departmental meeting had been called for next week which would consider modernising the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1954, with tighter regulations for the scrap metal industry a definite possibility.

Hendry commented “We will be having the meeting next week, on a cross-departmental basis, and the issues that he has highlighted will be addressed then. As I have explained, we are determined to address the issue, which is causing massive inconvenience, great threats and a really serious challenge to people working in the industry”.