Staffordshire MPs have united in support of the ceramics industry – as more than 100,000 people back a petition calling for more help for manufacturers.

Lichfield MP Dave Robertson led a Westminster Hall debate on the petition started by former Denby Pottery worker Hayley Baddiley, which asks the government to extend an energy intensive industry relief scheme to more ceramics firms.

Derbyshire-based Denby closed down last month after being hit by soaring energy costs, becoming the sector's latest big name to go out of business.

The petition, signed by 109,880 people so far, calls on the government to allow more ceramics manufacturers to access energy relief through the Supercharger scheme – currently only 10 per cent of firms in the sector are part of the scheme.

In May the government announced a £120 million support package for the ceramics industry, which will include help with energy costs. MPs from across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire who took part in the debate welcomed this support, but said more will be needed to save the sector.

Mr Robertson, whose constituency has been home to bathroomware manufacturer Armitage Shanks for more than 200 years, said the firm had been forced to close one of its kilns earlier this year resulting in the loss of 100 jobs.

He said: "The petition calls on the government to urgently review the British industry supercharger – a scheme that helps energy-intensive businesses including steel, chemicals and paper manufacturers with their electricity costs. [Hayley] calls for that to be extended to the ceramics sector.

"During the last few months, Denby has said that relief through the supercharger scheme would have saved the company, but currently, ceramics businesses are falling through the cracks of the scheme.

"Since this petition was started, the Government have recognised the challenge facing the ceramics sector specifically and have pledged a £120 million of targeted support. That funding is hugely welcome, but we all know that funding alone is not enough.

"A lot now hangs on the design of that scheme to ensure that the money is delivered quickly and is well targeted at the companies that most need it and where it will protect the most jobs."

MPs proposed other measures that could help ceramics manufacturers. Newcastle-under-Lyme MP Adam Jogee, whose constituency is home to Ibstock Brick, spoke in support of his bill aimed at increasing the use of British-made bricks in UK construction projects.

He said: "Out of all the sectors that once powered and thrived in our industrial heartlands, ceramics has been left behind, despite having built our homes, schools and hospitals.

"We need urgent action on energy bills and the costs associated for businesses in the ceramics industry. We need to ensure that the industry is at the heart of our trade agenda, and we need to redouble our efforts to ensure that we buy British every step of the way."

Sir Gavin Williamson, MP for Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge, called for the supercharger to be extended to cover gas costs, saying many ceramics manufacturers are unable to transition to electricity.

Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell, meanwhile, spoke in support of tightening the law around the labelling of UK-made ceramics and for more action against the dumping of cheap Chinese imports.

He said: "I genuinely believe there is a market around the world for quality ware made in the UK. Some companies in Stoke-on-Trent talk about where they export, and the value of that export, because of that mark on the bottom that says 'made in Stoke-on-Trent'."

Minister for Industry Chris McDonald said he recognised that 'more needs to be done' to support the ceramics industry, and rejected the 'myth' that government policy had pushed up the price of electricity.

He told MPs that the government would work to increase British productive capacity, improve productivity and increase exports.

Mr McDonald said: "We can reindustrialise, we can provide good jobs for working people and we can put pride back into working communities around the country. In the case of the ceramics industry, I am very much looking forward to working with parliamentary colleagues to ensure that it continues to be a great British industry into the future."