UK-Norway Defence Agreement: Impact in Scotland

Lord Hayward Excerpts

Wednesday 5th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hayward (Con)]

My Lords, having worked previously in a plant in the Midlands which supplied parts to frigates, I echo the comments that the Minister made about the importance of this contract to the whole of the United Kingdom. Therefore, is he absolutely clear that the steel that will be used in all different parts of these frigates will actually be made in the United Kingdom?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

The noble Lord raises an important point. As has been noted in this House before, the Department for Business and Trade has slashed electricity costs for steel producers and is in the process of streamlining grid access for major investment projects, while reaffirming this Government’s commitment to supporting Tata Steel through a £500 million grant to modernise its steel plant in Port Talbot. But I emphasise, in reassuring the noble Lord about this, that we absolutely want to see much more use of UK-made steel in public projects, including and perhaps especially in defence.