Tata 'losing business with high UK energy costs'

The Tata steel company told a government minister that it was losing business because of the high cost of energy prices in the UK.

The company claims its energy bill is almost twice its European competitors and an offer of financial support announced by the Treasury last week is not enough.

During a tour of Tata's steelworks in Corby, Northamptonshire, Energy Minister Greg Barker said the special exemption created by the government for energy-intensive industries would make a difference, but not immediately.