A Labour MP has warned that Stoke-on-Trent ceramics factories will close due to a lack of support from the government on energy costs.

Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell hit out at the government's new British Industrial Competitive Scheme (BICS), which he says will do nothing for manufacturers of tableware, giftware, ceramic tiles or bricks.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle told the House of Commons on Thursday that the BICS would cut electricity bills for 10,000 firms in energy intensive industries.

But Mr Snell criticised the scheme for excluding most ceramic manufacturers, and asked whether it is now government policy 'to oversee the end of the UK ceramics production'.

Industry body Ceramics UK and Stoke-on-Trent's MPs have long been calling for specific support for the sector, after missing out under previous government schemes. Mr Kyle said he would be willing to come to Stoke-on-Trent to discuss the issue with industry leaders.

But Mr Snell believes time is running out for the city's ceramic firms. He said: "This sector has seen exports of half a billion pounds, employs 20,000 people directly across the supply chain, and puts £1 billion back into the UK economy.

"We have spoken to the Chancellor, to the Secretary of State's predecessor, to the Energy Secretary, to ministers across all Departments, and to the Treasury. They promised us help in the Budget, in the industrial strategy, in another Budget, and in the autumn statement.

"Then we were told, 'Wait for BICS.' I suspect that the line from the Secretary of State will be, "The sector is gas-intensive, so wait for the supercharger scheme."

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"Frankly, that is not good enough. Factories will close and jobs will be lost as a result of this announcement. Bluntly and directly, may I ask the Secretary of State how many job losses and factory closures it will take, and how many brick kilns need to be mothballed, before the Government step in and do something for the ceramics sector? Is it now the Government's policy objective to oversee the end of UK ceramics production?"

Mr Kyle said a 'minority' of ceramics firms would benefit from BICS, but acknowledged the diversity of the sector would require a 'comprehensive' approach. He insisted that the government is listening to manufacturers.

He said: "There are monthly meetings with officials. There was a meeting just last week, attended by my honourable friend, other MPs and industry figures from the sector.

"I have just discovered that no Secretary of State for Business has visited Stoke to meet ceramic industry figures for over five years. I am willing to do that, and in the coming days, my Department will reach out to the people running those companies to see if my going there, listening to the concerns and seeing what could be done would be of interest to them. If they would like that, I will be there."

According to the government, BICS will bring industrial electricity costs more closely in line with those in other European countries. Mr Kyle said eligible sectors employ 900,000 people across all regions of Britain.