The Ministry of Defence has sidestepped a request for details about the role of UK-based steel companies in defence supply chains, instead emphasising general commitments to supporting the domestic steel sector.
In a written question submitted on 26 November 2024, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Labour MP for Slough, asked the Ministry of Defence to specify the number and proportion of steel companies classed as critical suppliers to UK defence programmes that are based in the UK.
Responding on 9 December, Minister of State Maria Eagle did not provide the requested figures, stating instead:
“The UK steel industry is an important strategic national asset, vital for our security and our economy. Our industry partners of all sizes are very much at the heart of our One Defence approach, and we recognise the value that suppliers bring to the UK defence programmes.”
The response also highlighted broader plans for the steel sector:
“We are bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy that will align our national security and economic priorities and maintain a resilient steel supply chain. The Government will also be bringing forward a new cross-government strategy for the steel sector, which will be published in Spring 2025.”
We recently reported that the Ministry of Defence stated that it does not anticipate any adverse impact on the UK’s defence industry or virgin steel supply resulting from potential closures of blast furnaces at Port Talbot and Scunthorpe.
This response came after James Cartlidge, MP for South Suffolk, questioned the Defence Ministry on the possible effects of such closures on the supply of virgin steel, a critical component for defence manufacturing.
Maria Eagle, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, responded by emphasising the strategic importance of the UK steel industry, noting, “This Government recognises the vital role the UK steel industry plays in Defence, to both our national security and economic growth.”
Eagle went on to reassure that “It is not anticipated that the closure of the blast furnaces at Port Talbot or Scunthorpe will have any adverse impact on Defence, but we will continue to monitor that situation.” She also revealed that the Government is planning to introduce a new Steel Strategy in the spring, aimed at ensuring a sustainable future for UK steel production.
The forthcoming Steel Strategy highlights the Government’s recognition of the importance of domestic steelmaking for defence and other key industries, as well as its commitment to a stable supply chain in light of ongoing economic and industrial changes.
Earlier this year, steelworkers completed the final operation on the last remaining blast furnace at Port Talbot, ending the traditional method of steelmaking in South Wales. Tata Steel extracted the final usable liquid iron from Blast Furnace 4, which is set to be replaced with electric arc furnaces as part of a major restructuring at the UK’s largest steelworks.
This shift was expected to lead to 2,800 job cuts, with Tata acknowledging the difficulty of the decision, while the union Unite criticised it as “industrial vandalism.”
British Steel was the best world wide once over. Now look at the state of the industry because of the stupid decisions made by our HMGs over the year’s .Teesside steel works was huge it went from been own by our government then India and South Korea both failed ,if I remember rightly the Cameron government had the chance to take back ownership but look the other way after a few weeks of pondering .I do recall reading about special steel coming from Sweden to build our Warships ,Government can’t answer on theses questions because they know it’s in a bloody mess .Teesside steel works use to take up the skyline all very flat now .Honestly 🙄
Just shows you that privatisation of critical industries in this country doesn’t work. We’re no longer competitive on the world stage and companies decide to source cheaper steel from abroad. Industries that are critical to defence (which should be a governments top priority), should be owned by the nation, for the nation. Not to be profited on by foreign companies.
In the UK energy is too expensive and the carbon tax again increases steel production costs . Imported steel has a bigger carbon footprint but Governments don’t seem to care about this and dragged their feet. Imports won’t have the tax added to 2027 because are stupid Governments seem to like damage our economy.
Isn’t it about time that governments were made to answer these type of questions in parliament?
Hardly a national security secret.
Politicians never answer a question properly…security based or otherwise.
Steel industry is so important that the Government has agreed to close port talbot until 2027 and replace it with so called greener system which relies solely on scrap metal. They have taken away PT ability to produce steel from iron ore, why? It should have been nationalised and updated. The so called new green system will require more electricity to produce inferior steel. Whereas PT could produce any variants of steel from raw iron ore the new system relies on the available scrap of potential correct variant of steel?
They have no clue. The Chinese have pillaged British Steel for all it process data and are now being obdurate about funding the arc furnace to the extent that re-nationalisation is possible and maybe on the cards. All through the election Stephen Kinnock lied and lied about Labours Green steel transition plan which clearly does not exist. I don’t think the concept of how steel is made is understood by any of them. More to the point National Power keep asking how it is intended to supply the vast amount of electricity to these furnaces and they never get an answer. Virtually no cabinet ministers and indeed MPs have ever held down a proper job so they understand nowt!