Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Harriett Baldwin and Tom Pursglove

Monday 30th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

T3. What assessment has my right hon. Friend made of Trident renewal on associated supply-chain jobs in the United Kingdom?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Harriett Baldwin)]

I can confirm that the Dreadnought submarine programme is a major national investment programme that will sustain thousands of jobs across the UK. The benefit will extend well beyond the major companies leading the programme.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Harriett Baldwin and Tom Pursglove

Monday 12th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin]

The hon. Lady rightly speaks up for steel production in her constituency. She will be very pleased to know that, for the largest project that the UK Government have ever procured that uses steel—she will be aware that that is the carrier programme currently under construction on the Clyde—the vast majority comes from Tata Steel. I believe it is 94%.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

I wholly support the increasing use of small firms for defence procurement, but will the Minister undertake to encourage those small firms to use British steel wherever possible?

[Harriett Baldwin]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that it is a process of encouraging competition not only within the procurement process, but where there are long lead-time items. In our strategic defence and security review, we clearly set out the largest programme of investment in ships for some time, and there will be a lot of long lead-time items. Small business and producers will be able to work with those who are procuring contracts with prime contractors to find a place in that supply chain.