Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure alignment between the Department for Business and Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on critical minerals.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
His Majesty's Government recognises the strategic importance of strengthening the UK's critical minerals security. The Critical Minerals Strategy, published on 22 November 2025, sets out a cross-government approach involving the Department for Business and Trade, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Ministry of Defence and other partners. Ministers and officials already work closely together through established governance structures to ensure policy alignment and effective coordination. We continually review whether these arrangements remain proportionate and effective. At present, we believe the existing cross government ministerial oversight provides the appropriate mechanism for coordinating critical mineral security policy.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had any discussions with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Critical Minerals about international partnerships.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Department for Business and Trade engages regularly with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Critical Minerals as part of its wider parliamentary and stakeholder outreach. Officials have participated in APPG meetings, including those focused on international alignment and partnerships, where they have provided updates on UK engagement with key partners and multilateral forums. This forms part of the Government's broader programme of international cooperation set out in the UK Critical Minerals Strategy, which includes collaboration through strategic partnerships and global initiatives.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the Critical Minerals Strategy, published on 22 November 2025, what assessment they have made of the potential merits of appointing a single minister responsible for coordinating critical mineral security policy between departments.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Department for Business and Trade holds regular meetings to discuss critical minerals policy with other departments, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of critical mineral supply chains. Chris McDonald MP as Minister for Industry in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) holds responsibility for critical minerals and regularly engages other Ministers on critical minerals policy.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of critical minerals in supporting innovation and supply chain resilience as part of net zero targets.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
A secure supply of critical minerals is vital to the UK’s economic growth and security, industrial strategy and clean energy transition. The 2025 UK Critical Minerals Strategy supports innovation and R&D in the UK to secure our critical minerals supply, through domestic production and international collaboration that is responsible and sustainable.
Following Spending Review 2025, new funding of up to £50 million will be made available by DBT to support critical mineral projects, to expand research and innovation as well as supporting commercialisation. Further details will be announced later this year.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to establish a minister for critical mineral security.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Chris McDonald MP was appointed Minister for Industry in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) on 11 September 2025. As Minister for Industry, his responsibilities cover critical minerals, including their security of supply.