Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of availability of raw materials for manufacturing industries during the covid-19 outbreak.

Manufacturing is a critical part of our economy. The Department is engaging with industry to ensure that we can support our manufacturing sectors during and after the Covid-19 crisis. The Government has introduced an unprecedented package of support to help businesses continue, and to give manufacturers and their suppliers the support they need to help them get back up and running after the Covid-19 crisis.

The Department is in regular contact with businesses who provide raw materials, such as recycled scrap metal, and with the manufacturers themselves, to understand the demand requirements of raw materials. To date, we have not received any indication that the supply of imported raw materials has been impacted. However, we are aware of tighter supplies of waste materials used for feedstock in steel, aluminium, and paper sectors, and we remain in close contact with impacted sectors to monitor the ongoing situation.

We also recognise that freight operators and their workforce (including all those working in supply chains) are vital to the continued flow of critical goods. Freight is currently moving effectively across borders into the UK.