Oral Answers to Questions

Toby Perkins Excerpts

Monday 23rd November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Dunne]

In accordance with your strictures, Mr Speaker, the answer to that question is yes.

[Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab)]

No one who has listened to the Minister’s answers today would have any confidence that he was going to take any serious steps to ensure that British steel was used in the purchase of the line of Type 26 frigates, which we expect to hear about shortly. Can he say a little more about what serious steps he will take, to justify the answer he has just given to the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant)? Let us support the British steel industry through this very important Government contract.

[Mr Dunne]

The hon. Gentleman is right to point to the Type 26 procurement programme as the next major platform where there will be a significant steel component. We are determined, as a Government who are keen to support our steel industry, that defence contractors will have the opportunity to source that steel from the UK, and we will do as much as we can to help them in that endeavour.