but for its part the treasury denied there d been any such talks. a spokesperson accused mr kwarteng of making things up. our business correspondent theo leggett reports. industries hit hard by soaring energy costs are growing ever louder in their calls for government action. steel makers, cement companies, ceramics firms and glass makers, they are warning that furnaces could go cold and factories shut down. we have companies already paying two or £3 million a month more for their gas price than they did before the crisis. investing in a furnace that might cost £20 million or £30 million to rebuild, it really does inform the decision whether you continue or whether you have to close down the furnace. the treasury is facing a difficult dilemma. any sort of direct intervention would be costly, and the government does not want to be seen to be bailing out failing businesses. but even a cost cap for industry,
a spokesperson accused mr kwarteng of making things up. our business correspondent theo leggett reports. industries hit hard by soaring energy costs are growing ever louder in their calls for government action. steel makers, cement companies, ceramics firms and glass makers, they are warning that furnaces could go cold and factories shut down. we have companies already paying two or £3 million a month more for their gas price than they did before the crisis. investing in a furnace that might cost £20 million or £30 million to rebuild, it really does inform the decision whether you continue or whether you have to close down the furnace. the treasury is facing a difficult dilemma. any sort of direct intervention would be costly, and the government does not want to be seen to be bailing out failing businesses. but even a cost cap for industry, which is what companies are asking for, risks simply transplanting the problems elsewhere.
good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. ministers are holding more talks today with manufacturers who are struggling because of the sharp rise in energy prices. industries such as steel and glass have called for emergency support, and yesterday the business secretary kwasi kwarteng claimed he has been discussing with the treasury how best to help hard hit companies. the treasury, though, denied there d been any such talks, with a spokesperson accusing mr kwarteng of making things up. our business correspondent theo leggett reports. industries hit hard by soaring energy costs are growing ever louder in their calls for government action. steel makers, cement companies, ceramics firms and glass makers, they are warning that furnaces could go cold and factories shut down. we