I tabled a written parliamentary question to the Ministry of Defence asking them about introducing a certificate of origin on steel used in construction, a call that was made in the Steel 2020 report. You can read their response below.

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of introducing the compulsory disclosure of certification and steel origin in UK defence procurement.

Ministry of Defence: In December 2016, the Government issued updated guidance on how Departments should ensure they take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers when conducting their procurement activities. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to follow this guidance, which has also now been extended to the wider public sector.

In the main, defence steel requirements are sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers, reflecting the overarching need to ensure competitive cost, time and quality. The specialist nature of some of our steel requirements means that UK steel producers do not always have the capability to supply our programmes. There are no plans to introduce the compulsory disclosure of certification and steel origin in UK defence procurement. However, the MOD is committed to facilitating the right conditions and supply chain opportunities for a competitive and sustainable steel industry across UK defence.