Black Country manufacturers could be driven out of business by Government plans to tackle climate change, an MP has warned.
Adrian Bailey (Lab West Bromwich West) said the steel and foundry industry in his constituency could suffer if extra costs were imposed on industry. Jobs would be lost overseas where costs were cheaper, he warned.
But there were also opportunities for businesses to increase profits by going green if Government gave them the right help, he said.
Mr Bailey was speaking after the Government unveiled a Bill in the Queen's Speech to tackle climate change.
Ministers will create laws to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which cause global warming, by 60 per cent by 2050. This could mean imposing extra costs on industries responsible for pollution.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Bailey said the Government was right to fight global warming.
He said: "The threat posed to security if huge segments of populations are deprived of their homes and livelihoods, or if the many borders or rivers between countries disappear, is, frankly, incalculable."
"If the Government takes the right decisions on climate change, my constituents will have more jobs and live in a cleaner and more energy efficient environment.
"If the Government make the wrong decisions, foundries in my constituency will have higher costs and jobs could be lost to companies abroad that have higher carbon emissions, but which are at a competitive advantage because their overall costs are lower," he said.
