6. c. 72) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which nationalised, or bought into state control, elements of the iron and steel industry in Great Britain.

The involvement of the UK government in the iron and steel industry began in the interwar period with the establishment of the British Iron and Steel Federation to represent companies in the industry, and which fixed prices, production quotas, levies, and closed redundant works under Government supervision.

In 1945 the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sir Oliver Franks, published a report on the future of the industry.

Franks recommended a radical modernisation with the aim of reducing prices to keep British steel competitive on the world market.

Board members were appointed by the Minister of Supply and represented industry employers, workers and consumers.

The Iron and Steel Corporation of Great Britain was established under the provisions of the act with effect from October 1950.

It brought 94 iron and steel companies into public ownership with effect from vesting day, the 15 February 1951.

[1] The mode of nationalisation was distinct because many iron and steel companies undertook other integrated activities, that could not easily be segregated into their individual functions.

It transferred the corporation's properties, rights, liabilities and obligations to a newly established Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency.

[10] The agency gradually sold the nationalised companies back into the private sector with the exception of Richard Thomas and Baldwins which remained in public ownership until it was absorbed into the British Steel Corporation in 1967.