Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2017 to Question 9980, on iron and steel: procurement, what progress his Department has made on delivering greater UK steel content in line with the public procurement guidelines published by the Government in April 2016.

The Department is required to comply with Procurement policy Note 11/16: Procuring Steel In Major Projects published on 12 December 2016, which offers guidance for major procurement projects where steel is a critical component. This is a guide for the public sector on how to design major projects involving steel to ensure best value for money by recognising relevant wider social and environmental benefits.

The Department does not frequently procure capital assets or other contracts that require the direct procurement of steel. The Department has not directly entered into any major contracts since April 2016 where steel was a critical component.

The Department does provide a framework agreement for design and construction services to the National Health Service called ProCure22. Steel was considered when this framework was procured and suppliers have committed to procure United Kingdom-produced steel when it represents best value for money.

The Department does not hold centrally any data on the procurement of steel in the NHS or its arm’s length bodies.