British Military Equipment: Chinese Components

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee Excerpts

Wednesday 25th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I do not know the specific answer to that, but I will be very happy to come back to the noble Lord. I would stress that we are working very closely with the Americans on this whole question of critical minerals. The noble Lord often asks about the Commonwealth. I should say that we are working closely with our Commonwealth partners on resolving these issues and having a common approach.

[Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, surely the best way to protect the defence supply chain is to have a short supply chain. Does the Minister agree that the best way to do that is to support out indigenous industries here in the United Kingdom—right across the United Kingdom—particularly to use the expertise that is on display? I am thinking of the Cyber Security Centre in Belfast, for example.

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I entirely agree with the noble Baroness on that point. As she knows from previous answers that I have given from this Dispatch Box, the defence industry in the UK generally, and in Northern Ireland specifically, is enjoying a great renaissance; that has a great deal to do with government investment. That is something to which we are committed, and we are already seeing the benefits.