Iron and Steel: Government Assistance

(asked on 24th February 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the environmental benefits of using UK-made steel in projects funded by his Department.


Answered by
Victoria Prentis Portrait
Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
This question was answered on 1st March 2021

Within the Environment Agency’s Collaborative Delivery Framework, the following is specified:

  • All suppliers must have Environmental Management Systems and hold ISO 14001.
  • Steel piles will be specified and sourced in line with Minimum Technical Requirements.
  • Steel used shall have a high recycled content. As a minimum this should be 70%, but higher recycled content rates are expected.
  • Contractors must demonstrate that life cycle sustainability impacts have been considered and minimised in the purchase of steel. Credible evidence must be obtained which demonstrates sustainability and traceability through the supply chain.

All Government departments and arms-length bodies are required to consider socio-economic and environmental factors when procuring steel, not just cost alone.

Our new Social Value Model (published in September last year) requires central government departments to expressly evaluate environmental, social and economic benefits as part of the procurement process (for qualifying procurements).

In addition, the Government is currently consulting on an ambitious package of major procurement reform. The Government’s aim is to create a simpler and more flexible regime that works much better for British businesses, including steel business, while still complying with our international obligations.  The proposals made will help ensure that public procurement at all levels actively helps achieve national strategic priorities, generating economic growth, helping our communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and tackling climate change. The consultation closes on 10 March.

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