Telecommunications: Lithium and Silicon

(asked on 17th May 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the silicone and lithium shortages on UK telecommunications supply chains; and what steps he is taking to secure UK silicon and lithium supplies.


Answered by
Matt Warman Portrait
Matt Warman
This question was answered on 20th May 2021

Government works in collaboration with the telecommunications industry to enhance its resilience through the Electronic Communications Resilience and Response Group (EC-RRG). We will continue to keep the availability of raw materials in the supply chain under continual review with industry partners, as we do for all issues that may affect resilience of UK telecommunications networks and services.

In the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy published in March 2021, the Government’s priority actions to 2025 include diversifying the UK’s supply in critical goods, such as medical equipment and rare earth elements, through trade partnerships and international collaboration. Within the UK, the Government will continue to explore opportunities around domestic extraction and processing of critical minerals, such as lithium, as well as their recovery, recycling and reuse to establish a viable circular economy. Demand for these materials is global and the Government is working to ensure supplies remain sufficient for the UK economy.

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