Labour MP and Chair of the Defence Committee Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi has questioned the Ministry of Defence on its use of British-made metal in defence procurement and whether or not steps are being taken to spice up home metal manufacturing for army programmes.
In two written questions submitted on 18 June 2025, the Slough MP requested for estimates on the proportion of British metal utilized by the UK defence trade over the previous yr, and whether or not the Ministry was taking motion to extend home capabilities for defence-relevant metal manufacturing.
Responding on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, Minister of State Maria Eagle acknowledged that the UK metal sector “gives important assist to the UK’s defence capabilities”, however acknowledged that defence contractors supply metal from each UK and worldwide suppliers as a result of particular technical necessities.
“Metal utilized in our main Defence programmes is sourced by our prime contractors from a variety of UK and worldwide suppliers, as programmes could typically have necessities for specialist metal which can’t be sourced within the UK,” Eagle stated.
She added that the info on metal origin is detailed within the Division for Enterprise and Commerce’s annual Metal Public Procurement report, obtainable on gov.uk.
The Minister additionally outlined steps being taken underneath a forthcoming Defence Industrial Technique, aimed toward higher aligning defence procurement with nationwide safety and financial priorities.
“This can embrace a evaluation of the UK’s method to important provide chain components, similar to metal, alongside reviewing and reconfirming the areas the place the UK must retain sovereign manufacturing capacities onshore,” Eagle stated.
In parallel, a broader cross-government Metal Technique is being developed, meant to set out a long-term industrial imaginative and prescient. In keeping with Eagle, it will “promote long-term progress, and align with wider priorities, together with the commerce technique, Strategic Defence Evaluate and the upcoming Trendy Industrial Technique.”
