Oral QuestionMinistry of Defence

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Tabled: 19 December 2024Answered: 6 January 2025

Asked by

Richard Tice

Reform UKBoston and Skegness

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Defence

Answer from Hansard

John Healey

The hon. Gentleman has put his finger on a long-standing, deep-running weakness, namely a procurement policy under the last Government that did not recognise the UK steel industry as a strategic industry and was content for the amount of UK steel sourced for some new ships to be in the single figures. [Interruption.] Under previous procurement Ministers, the proportion was 4%. We will change that: the SDR will set out a plan to not just boost UK security, but strengthen the UK economy.