British Military Equipment: Chinese Components

Lord Evans of Rainow Excerpts

Wednesday 25th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord McColl of Dulwich (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)]

It is the turn of the Cross Benches.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord McColl of Dulwich (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

It is the turn of the Conservative Benches. If they can make their minds up, someone can ask a question.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I entirely agree with the noble Baroness on that point. As she knows from previous answers that I have given from this Dispatch Box, the defence industry in the UK generally, and in Northern Ireland specifically, is enjoying a great renaissance; that has a great deal to do with government investment. That is something to which we are committed, and we are already seeing the benefits.

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords, it is my great privilege to serve in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, as do many other noble Lords. I was recently provided with a uniform for a trip to the Falkland Islands. I was somewhat surprised to see that that uniform was made in China. Is it beyond our allies in NATO to be able to manufacture our own uniforms?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

My Lords, I dare say it is not. Procurement of clothing is one of the many things that we are working on. On the wider question of procurement from China, we do not at all underestimate the challenge of that, and we will continue to work on it.